With Thanksgiving just around the corner, today seems like a good day to talk about doing good things.
Give a Shoebox
In November, Operation Christmas Child collects shoeboxes filled with toys and supplies for children around the world. From dolls and yo-yos to pencils and calculators, Operation Christmas Child is a wonderful way to help a child in need. If you don’t have time to fill a shoebox this year, you can build one online.
Support Our Troops
Tomorrow is Veterans Day, and while the weekend sales are nice, shopping at the mall does not support our troops. Why not make a donation instead? The USO offers a range of programs that support deployed, wounded, and transitioning servicemen and women. Also, they put together goody bags for trainees who get to go home for Christmas, and I can’t tell you how meaningful that is. For other ways to support our troops, check out Charity Navigator.
Build a School
Okay, you might not have the money to do it all by yourself, but that is where Pencils of Promise comes in. I first heard about this for-purpose organization on MarieTV. If you haven’t seen this episode, you must watch it. I’ll wait… That was inspiring, wasn’t it? So is Adam Braun’s book, The Promise of a Pencil: How an Ordinary Person Can Create Extraordinary Change. I recently finished reading it and am still in awe of the passion and commitment he has shown to educating children around the world. So far, Pencils of Promise has built 251 schools and served 29, 907 students.
Donate Your Party Dress
By providing free dresses and accessories, The Princess Project plays fairy godmother to California teens who cannot afford these prom expenses. You can donate gently used dresses and accessories at a community drive or mail a dress to Weddington Way and receive a store voucher.
Cut Your Hair
If you are thinking about getting a shorter hairdo, now is the perfect time to consider donating your hair to Locks of Love, which gives hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children who suffer from long-term, medical hair loss. Their hair donation guidelines are a good place to start.