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.
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.
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.
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?
I get involved in anything that has to do with children. When I started my business I vowed that if I made any money, I would donate. My first was last year to an organization called Donors Choose which helps schools who have had funding cut and the teachers request a specific amount for a specific project. That was great and I felt wonderful helping out a class of young children get supplies so they could learn how to tell time.
This year I am again helping with a smaller donation, a gift card to Michaels for an orphaned children’s organization that is getting a craft room redo by a local girl scout chapter. One of the leaders works with me at the day job and I have committed to a $50.00 gift card through my business so the kids can buy crafts for their new craft room.
I’d love to get involved with a project for women and/or children and help out with fixing up a room or rooms for a shelter or living quarters. Something more hands on.
I’ve gotten involved with literacy organizations and I’ve been reading to elementary students. I also sponsor two little girls through World Vision; one in Albania and the other in South Africa. It’s been so amazing, and I feel so blessed to have them both in my life!
I have always given what I can afford to charities involving children and animals and I prefer to give to those who work on a locally. About a year ago I started volunteering at the nearby Habitat for Humanity Re-Store because although they are an international organisation, they are also very active on a local area. I have been able to meet some of the recipients of their homes and I am happy that the precious money donated and spent in the store is put to good use.
Administration costs are covered by government grants, business donations and charitable trusts while every cent received in the Re-Store is spent on housing.
Aside from the do-good aspect, I just LOVE my time there. The people are lovely and I get to pick up amazing things to use in my own home. I never used to go to thrift stores (I had a couple of bad experiences going to some that had only dirty, broken rubbish) but I have discovered a whole new way of shopping and now I cringe at what I used to spend. I know now that not only am I getting a good deal, but that my money spent is going to someone who needs it. Very satisfying.
I to like you heard a missionary from cwjc- Christian womens job crops and I new i needed to do something to help.I mentored for 2 years and now teach a parenting class.I have done this for about 2 Years.I am thankful I can help some small way.I have a compassions child for 4 years.I love doing what I can.It means the world to me.It is a blessing to me that I can’t describe.I get so much more than I give.You will love being a mentor.You will be great at it. Cheryl
I have always had a soft spot for animals and have donated time and money for many years to those causes, especially the no-kill shelters which educate and promote neuter and spay of pets. I also do work through our church for the people in it who have had problems lately losing their jobs and making ends meet. Also, I love spending time with the older women shut ins…these beautiful women have some wonderful life stores to tell and have seen so much over the years. They are amazing!
Rhoda,
This is such an important topic. Thank you for opening this dialog! Like you I feel it is important to contribute to society. My husband and I donate blood regularly at the American Red Cross. We also strongly support organ donation and are officially registered to become donors when our time comes.
I’m involved with Enchanted Makeovers a non profit organization that makes over Women’s and Children’s homeless shelters. I assisted on the Vista Maria project last Thanksgiving and posted a story about it on my blog.
I lived overseas for 5 years in Dubai, which is one of the richest cities on earth. It also had some of the poorest people working there from the surrounding countries including Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. I was a member of the American Women’s Association, which had a philanthropic branch. We assisted many people in need through different programs we offered. My husband and I also assisted on our own.
“How far that little candle throws his beams. So shines a good deed in a weary world.” I love this quote by William Shakespeare
Cathy
Just a beautiful post and a very important one too! The work you do is life changing and eternally revelant.
My husband and I have also been involved in an organization that drills for fresh water in Africa. We outfit libraries and hospitals with furniture, medicine and other equipment they need. We just recently were able to see pictures of the things we sent in place in a children’s library and a hospital. Very, very rewarding!
Keep being God’s hands… and heart!
Yvonne
I have a deep compassion for children. I have been helping at the Alabama Children’s Emergency Shelter for a few years now. The shelter houses children who have been abused or neglected for a temporary time period of about 1-3 months. They are then reunited with their parents (depends on the judge), go to live with relatives or foster parents and some are even adopted.
The shelter is the most warm, loving, nurturing home I have ever been to. The children are given what most have never experienced love, attention, clothing, home-cooked meals, family time, stability, security, and most importantly are shown the love of Christ.
I have had the priviledge of spending time with these precious children. I have helped paint and decorate their rooms. They love crafts! I go and help them make cards to send to their parents (which most of the them still miss). We decorate cookies together, read, do homework. It is amazing to see the transformation that takes place from the time they enter until they leave. They learn loving discipline, how to respect others, manners, and what a true family should be. The house parents there are truly amazing and have given up everything and dedicated their lives to make a difference in the lives of these children. One of the house parents has recently been diagosed with MS. Her prayer is that she can stay well enough to continue to do what she loves the most. Rhoda, will you please lift her up in prayer. Thank you!
There is no person, young or old, that should go hungry or do without in the most prosperous country in the world. There are enough people in this country who have plenty to help those less fortunate whether it be with their time or money. I often think that if everyone did there part there would be no need for government help for the poor and less fortunate.
“If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” 1 John 3:17-18
God Bless Rhoda!
Angie
In a society where so many people would rather focus on themselves, this is such a great discussion! Doing for others is the best way ever to “get over yourself” and serve God in a way he expects. The congregation where we worship has what we call a “benovelent house”. We accept donations of clothing and furniture, & collect canned goods to give back to the community for free. Each Tuesday morning I join with a couple of other ladies from the church and help put together things for those who are needy. If someone in the community has a home burn we have packages of necessities already put together to give to them. It is a lot of work as clothing that has been donated often needs to be washed, ironed and repaired if necessary, but to see the look of appreciation on the faces of so many is such a wonderful feeling.
Dear Rhoda,
What a perfect idea for after Easter when our minds and hearts should be EXPLODING with love and gratitude for a Savior King who died for us, so we in turn should be thinking about how we, too, can sacrifice for others.
For me, being a Southern Christian woman, with uniquely humble beginnings, well, if I did not do things to help in the community, it would be like spitting on Jesus or my adoptive parents because I am part of a legacy of altruistic giving and sacrificing for those less needy, for the “least of these.” When my parents miraculously adopted me at age 6, I knew immediately that it was something that would define my life, but my parents went beyond that gesture to show me how to BE Christ, His hands and feet, in the community, whether giving gift baskets anonymously to the lady with 9 children whose farmer husband had a poor crop or giving clothes to a family whose house burned down or opening up our home and letting someone who had no money yet stay in our house. So I’ve done all those things in turn and more. Being an orphan makes me called to help orphans. It’s even in my bio section of my blog, how I like to help the Tatums, who are our missionary friends now serving in Costa Rica as house parents at an orphanage there. We’ve helped raise money for them, helped them fix their house up to sell, helped with yardsales, given CDs to help raise money and next month I’ll be doing my first concert in years and will give all the proceeds from that for the Tatums/the orphans in Costa Rica. World Vision is also soooo dear to my heart and we sponsored Hin, from Burma/Myanmar, there for years and years and he is like another child. We’ve gone to homeless shelters and brought food and supplies and just spent time with folks on Thanksgiving, I just a few weeks ago taught a free drama workshop at an inner city school for kids who otherwise wouldn’t be exposed to the arts and I just wanted to encourage them and love them in Christ’s name, we’ve helped our friends, the Moores, with their ministry in Guatemala, we’ve sent money and letters and prayers to our pastor’s son who helps get clean water to rural areas overseas (did you know that if you put a well into a place like that where the kids can then get clean water that you can CUT INFANT MORTALITY RATES IN HALF?!?!?! Yes, 50% less deaths of little innocent babies. That means, with simply a small and rather rustic well and clean water system that instead of 200 babies dying that year, you’d then only have 100!!!)
HOW COULD I NOT HELP WITH THAT? I have been SO BLESSED and want to do more and more things like that to help. I got sick last year and couldn’t physically go overseas on the trip to see my friends in Costa Rica and serve there in person, but I COULD raise money and I COULD raise awareness and I COULD pray. So, today, I CAN continue to raise money with that concert and all the CD sales going to those little orphans, I CAN write on your blog about the wells that Pastor Adcock’s son is building (if you or any one else wants information on these things, the orphanage or the well systems, PLEASE let me know) and I CAN hand out literature to anyone even half way interested and I CAN….well….that’s just it, even with being sick I still CAN make a difference and so can so many other folks.
It can be as simple as working for an afternoon on a house for Habitat for Humanity (we’ve done this and IT ROCKS) or you can donate items to Good Will or you can do a bake sale or you can go read to kids at the orphanage or tutor kids who need help in school or…..it doesn’t have to be huge. Even one afternoon of your time given away to those in need IS HUGE in heaven’s eyes.
And that’s why my family and I work so hard to do all these things, even with my illness.
I honestly can’t think of anything better to do with my time!!!!
Thanks for asking so I could tell you about these wonderful causes!
Love in Christ,
Lana
We also have a Compassion child from India- it’s been a wonderful opportunity for our whole family. We’re currently living overseas and we’ve been privileged to open our home up to missionaries to have a little cultural break. We always look for opportunities to share with the expat community as well as those in our host country- building relationships so we can tell them about the Lord.
Dear Friend,
Why am I not surprised at your continued growth in all areas of life? Paying It Forward – that is the key to a full life. Yes,
decorating, crafting, thrifting – and grandmothering my 18 month grand angel girl is top banana in my life – but faith
in God and humanity only makes life fuller.
I am heavily involved in our women’s ministry, luck enough to be in Beth Moore’s live clases here in Houston, teach 3 year olds, – but a year ago became active like you have in
Compassion International. The Bridge, a safe place for women who are abused and have courage to leave with
their children for a better life – has become an area of
giving for us. Paying it Forward – keeps me centered.
Hugs to you,
patti
Hi Rhoda, Working at the Jubilee shop is a small way I give back. The job pays very little, but the company has grown to a corporation run by Christion ministries and supports over a dozen chaplains at state and federal prisons, is involved in Habitat for humanity, has halfway houses and transition houses and helps families with food, clothing and shelter locally. They remind their employees often that the work they do is all for the glory and honor of God.
I’m involved in the Community Connections group at church where we plan various activities for the church and outreach into the community, especially women. We’re in the middle of planning a Spring celebration.
Every year I help to raise money for Alzheimer’s research and various other organizations. This year it was the Leukemia society.
And I’ve always donated to various thrift shops and donate to the local food bank regularly.
Great post1 As I said before, Women are amazing beings!
You have inspired me to blog about a nonprofit foundation started by my BFF’s daughter-in-law. It is a support program for the foster children in our county. I can’t believe how this young wife and mother has built BigHouse from her dream. Please stop by Friday to read about how everyone can help this valuable program!
Rhoda,
My darlin’ husband and I have a dream to dig wells in third world countries. We found out about Gary and Elizabeth , and we’re going through their organization (By Provision) to make our dream come true.
It takes $5,000 for them to drill a well. We’re not quite ready to drill the first one, but we hope to be soon.
Our Sunday School class has been so supportive of this endeavor. We’re truly blessed.
And you are a blessing to many.
Sweet dreams.
Thank you Rhoda, for standing on the platform of this blog and shining His light brightly! We all have our part to do as His hands and feet, and I’m very inspired by your post and the readers’ comments. Right now, as a stay at home mom of three little ones, I wish I could do more hands on…but I’m content in knowing that I’m where I’m supposed to be. We sponsor three young boys in Africa through World Vision, give to Living Water Intl., and faithfully tithe to our church, which has an incredible missions program. We are also saving to adopt a child. Thanks to some of the ideas here, I see some ways I can give more of my time, which is something I’ve been compelled to.
Our church has a heart for the homeless. I have spent numerous hours helping feed the homeless at our church’s Wednesday night dinners each week and also feeding the homeless at the local soup kitchen. Getting to know these homeless people has been a real blessing. These people have blessed my life, more than I could have ever blessed theirs. One day I hope to go on a mission trip with my church. Love & blessings from NC!
Rhoda — Lovelady Center is long been something I’ve thought about donating my time to. I work with CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) and we work with abused and neglected children. We’ve had some of our moms in Lovelady and I think what they are doing is so important.
You’ve inspired me to reach out to them again.
Thanks
Having dealt with 4 premature infants of my own…anything to do with babies/children really pulls at my heartstrings.