How many times have you thought I am only one person and what kind of difference can I make? Well...I want to give you some food for thought on that and hopefully you will realize that we ALL make a difference...we ALL have a part to play and that YOU may just be the difference in someone's life today!
First of all....last week I had the privilege (yes the PRIVILEGE) of serving at Minnie's Food Pantry. This is one of my favorite things to do simply because of how it is run and what their mission is: yes to feed the hungry, but in a totally dignified and professional way that should be a model across the country! Minnie's operates just a few hours a day, completely on donations, and this is why it works.
"Guests" line up early (before opening) on benches out front. They are ushered in one at a time, registered (you can only come in so often), and given a shopping cart outfitted with a box of staples (that my group helps put together...canned veggies, soup, pasta, pasta sauce, cereal, crackers, cookies, some juice boxes, etc.) and a volunteer to help you "shop" for things your family wants and needs with your "money" that you are given when you check in (depending on family size). This includes meats, fresh bread, etc. The boxes are all assembled at one time with all foods facing up looking very professional so that you can clearly see what is in your box. All "guests" are made to feel welcome, special, and taken care of. Their baskets are escorted to their transportation and loaded just like a supermarket should do. This is such a heartwarming ministry....I can not begin to tell you how happy it makes me to be there. Volunteers are their lifeblood and they exist on donations. Can't feed everyone on your budget? No...but you can feed just one or two by donating today! Also...try volunteering there just once...you'll see!
Secondly....try mentoring someone at something that YOU excel at. Whether it is business related, teaching remedial reading to adults passed on by the system but stuck in low paying jobs because of their inability to read well....or even sharing your expertise at cooking, knitting, quilting, or other life skill that you may enrich someone's life with! I have been known to say, "The only thing I am qualified to teach about running my own business is how NOT to run a business." By that I mean that I have made soooo many mistakes that I have learned everything the hard way. But...now I know that maybe, just maybe, I can save others from some of those mistakes purely by talking and sharing with them some of my experiences. I have had this pleasure this year for two separate individuals, both of which I am happy to say are doing well! I have also helped others plan parties, even showing them the math of food buying for crowds, and portioning for parties. Very rewarding indeed!
Lastly, after this election year, hopefully, our nation can heal and start working together for the common good (the reason the officials were elected to start with). I am hopeful when I see pictures like Gov. Christie of New Jersey and President Obama arm in arm working together to help those so devastated by Hurricane Sandy. When everyone can put their own personal agenda together to work for the common good of mankind, then it is amazing what the results can be! Let us vow that this unity can start with each one of us reaching out to whom we consider the other side, wave an olive branch, and start to work together as ONE country, ONE people, ONE voice to help those in need, whatever need that may be. Remember, we are all one people united from many lands seeking freedom, opportunities to thrive, and raise our families. One group is NOT superior to another, but all are equally a part of something that began as a dream where everyone could help form a more perfect union and participate in the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness.
In closing, the only human that I truly regard as saintly, Mother Teresa once said: "I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters which can create many ripples."
To your success I raise my cup of Pumpkin Spice Tea,
Sheila Williamson
www.sheilasenergy.igniteinc.biz
www.sheilasenergy.cleannation.biz
ignitewithsheila@gmail.com
First of all....last week I had the privilege (yes the PRIVILEGE) of serving at Minnie's Food Pantry. This is one of my favorite things to do simply because of how it is run and what their mission is: yes to feed the hungry, but in a totally dignified and professional way that should be a model across the country! Minnie's operates just a few hours a day, completely on donations, and this is why it works.
"Guests" line up early (before opening) on benches out front. They are ushered in one at a time, registered (you can only come in so often), and given a shopping cart outfitted with a box of staples (that my group helps put together...canned veggies, soup, pasta, pasta sauce, cereal, crackers, cookies, some juice boxes, etc.) and a volunteer to help you "shop" for things your family wants and needs with your "money" that you are given when you check in (depending on family size). This includes meats, fresh bread, etc. The boxes are all assembled at one time with all foods facing up looking very professional so that you can clearly see what is in your box. All "guests" are made to feel welcome, special, and taken care of. Their baskets are escorted to their transportation and loaded just like a supermarket should do. This is such a heartwarming ministry....I can not begin to tell you how happy it makes me to be there. Volunteers are their lifeblood and they exist on donations. Can't feed everyone on your budget? No...but you can feed just one or two by donating today! Also...try volunteering there just once...you'll see!
Secondly....try mentoring someone at something that YOU excel at. Whether it is business related, teaching remedial reading to adults passed on by the system but stuck in low paying jobs because of their inability to read well....or even sharing your expertise at cooking, knitting, quilting, or other life skill that you may enrich someone's life with! I have been known to say, "The only thing I am qualified to teach about running my own business is how NOT to run a business." By that I mean that I have made soooo many mistakes that I have learned everything the hard way. But...now I know that maybe, just maybe, I can save others from some of those mistakes purely by talking and sharing with them some of my experiences. I have had this pleasure this year for two separate individuals, both of which I am happy to say are doing well! I have also helped others plan parties, even showing them the math of food buying for crowds, and portioning for parties. Very rewarding indeed!
Lastly, after this election year, hopefully, our nation can heal and start working together for the common good (the reason the officials were elected to start with). I am hopeful when I see pictures like Gov. Christie of New Jersey and President Obama arm in arm working together to help those so devastated by Hurricane Sandy. When everyone can put their own personal agenda together to work for the common good of mankind, then it is amazing what the results can be! Let us vow that this unity can start with each one of us reaching out to whom we consider the other side, wave an olive branch, and start to work together as ONE country, ONE people, ONE voice to help those in need, whatever need that may be. Remember, we are all one people united from many lands seeking freedom, opportunities to thrive, and raise our families. One group is NOT superior to another, but all are equally a part of something that began as a dream where everyone could help form a more perfect union and participate in the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness.
In closing, the only human that I truly regard as saintly, Mother Teresa once said: "I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters which can create many ripples."
To your success I raise my cup of Pumpkin Spice Tea,
Sheila Williamson
www.sheilasenergy.igniteinc.biz
www.sheilasenergy.cleannation.biz
ignitewithsheila@gmail.com
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