• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Partner
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

Southern Hospitality

Adventures in Decorating, Thrifting, Cooking, Fashion & Gardening

  • My Home
  • Categories
    • A+ Blogs
    • My Blog Story
    • Decorating
    • DIY/How-To
    • Family
    • Gardening
    • In the Kitchen
    • My Home Tours
    • Thrifting
    • Travel
  • DIY Gallery
  • Fashion
  • Feature Friday
  • Shop My Home
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter

Giving Back from your Heart

April 5, 2010 By Rhoda 30 Comments

0 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet

6a00d83479fc3f69e20120a94ce816970b-800wi

What is it that gets  you out of your comfort zone,  giving back to the community?  What is it that pushes you into action?

When you see needs out there in the community or even overseas, what hits home for you?  Is it something close to home, like a family member or friend’s illness, something you saw on a blog or on TV?

Let’s talk about what pushes YOU to get involved outside yourself in the community.  I imagine we’ve all donated clothing or home items and maybe even had a bake sale to raise money for missions or charity, so tell me about it.

Lovelady

For me, the past couple of years I’ve really felt the need to get outside my own personal comfort zone so much more than ever.  Our Pastor at church has urged us all to get involved in the community and help wherever we can, sharing God’s love with those who don’t have what we have.  There are so many good organizations out there to lend our time to and one of my own personal choices has been The Lovelady Center, a faith-based women’s home that houses over 300 women (and lots of children), many of them coming out of prison, with drug habits and bad choices.

IMG_3656

They need a helping hand and they need to hear the Gospel and The Lovelady Center does both.  So, when I heard their presentation almost 2 years ago, my heart was tugged in that direction and I’ve been involved with them off and on since then, teaching classes, sponsoring a Christmas table the last 2 years for the ladies Christmas party and I’ve donated clothing and home items to their thriftstore too.  This is a small way to help, but one that has been very rewarding for me.

I’ve also just signed up to become a mentor for one lady at the center and look forward to getting started with that.   And my church small group and I are going to make-over a room, updating it with paint and new bedding to help some of those ladies feel more comfortable in their new surroundings, as they get their lives together and hopefully get back in society in a few months.

IMG_7469

Last November, a group of ladies came together and decorated a Holiday House, which was a fund-raiser for missionaries, Gary and Elizabeth Wilkins of  By Provision ministries in Africa, building wells for clean water.  I so enjoyed being part of that group and our collective efforts raised over $13,000 for these wonderful missionaries.

After hearing so much about Compassion International in the last couple of years from many bloggers who have gone on Compassion trips, to hearing the Director of Compassion speak at our church, I’m now sponsoring my own little girl in Honduras and am happy to be able to do that.

These are just a few ways that I’ve felt personally called to get involved in my community and abroad and now that I don’t hold down a full-time job, I have extra time to give of my myself in these areas, which makes my heart very happy.

I’d love to hear from all of you too.  What pushes your personal buttons to get involved and do something in your own community or overseas?

Related


Don't Miss a Post, join my list!

Filed Under: Travel 30 Comments

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Susan says

    April 9, 2010 at 1:55 pm

    I love working with disadvantaged children. I spend 1 or 2 Saturdays a month with some super cute kids living in the projects in NYC.

    Reply
  2. Jeanette Huston says

    April 10, 2010 at 4:16 pm

    When someone is hurt or needs help I feel the need to help especially if children are invovled.

    [email protected]

    Reply
  3. Melinda says

    April 13, 2010 at 9:08 am

    We sponsor a child in africa and help out at local events

    Reply
  4. joy says

    April 13, 2010 at 9:12 am

    a touching story pushes my buttons

    Reply
  5. Wehaf says

    April 16, 2010 at 10:29 am

    Just being aware of how well off I am compared to almost everyone else makes me want to give to others. Every year I give to Kiva, Donors Choose, Heifer International, and Planned Parenthood. I also volunteer as a tutor, which is the most personally rewarding!

    Reply
  6. DG says

    April 24, 2010 at 10:53 pm

    seeing my friends volunteering and also experiencing good fortune. nothing motivates me more than gratitude I feel for another person

    Reply
  7. Carol says

    April 26, 2010 at 3:37 pm

    When I read a touching story in the paper, I always respond.

    Reply
  8. Mikki M says

    April 26, 2010 at 4:58 pm

    My husband’s a pastor of a church we started 3 years ago. Our goal was to give back to our community and globally. We purchased a children’s home in Belize that houses 15 girls from a life of abuse. We write letters and correspond to the girls building relationships and take trips regularly. In our own community we have adopted a charity organization that helps families..particularly mothers trying to raise their children. We just put together gift bags for Mother’s day for these women…each will be given her own nail kit complete with fingernail polish etc. It is a luxury item for these women. I encourage everyone to reach out in their own backyards and see that we can all help somewhere!

    Reply
  9. Deb Anderson says

    April 26, 2010 at 6:16 pm

    When a dear friend of mine was nearly beaten to death by her abusive husband, my eyes were opened to domestic abuse problems. She luckily was rescued by a non-profit organization that put her in a “safe house” for as long as she needed. She was eventually able to get court protection and get herself and her children away from a deadly situation, but she was one of the lucky ones. That experience has made me realize that there are people right in our own neighborhoods who need some serious help and often don’t know where to turn to get it. So domestic violence agencies are high on my preferred charity and volunteer list.

    Reply
  10. Jill Hayes says

    April 29, 2010 at 1:51 am

    I donate to Goodwill every month

    Reply
« Older Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Thanks for stopping by! I’m Rhoda, from Atlanta, GA and I love decorating and DIY projects. Decorating a home doesn’t have to cost a fortune and I’ve spent years thrifting at antiques markets and yard sales, finding those treasures that make a home unique. I’m here to inspire and encourage other women to find their own inner creativity. Won’t you join me?

Click Here

Click Here

Email Series
How to Decorate in
Classic Timeless Style
.....without breaking the bank!

House Renovation Journey!

Our Paint Colors

Archives

Categories

Footer Widget Header2

Featured here:

Better Homes and Gardens
Atlanta Magazine
Better Homes and Gardens

Footer

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • Contact
  • Partner

Copyright © 2023 · Southern Hospitality · Blog Design by Little Blue Deer
Privacy Policy

Get my FREE Email Series How to Decorate in Classic Timeless Style....without breaking the bank!
After years of decorating my own homes, I've learned a few tricks on how to create a classic home on a budget. Hope you'll join me!
Your information will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party.