This Saturday will be the 20th year for the national Letter Carriers Food Drive. Our local food donations will go to Food Finders Food Bank. Hopefully, this weekend will add to the supplies at food banks all over the United States to help feed the hungry.

We received our food drive bag in the mail, did you? Of course, we can add as many bags or boxes of food as we want. Our mail service is making it so easy to donate to a good cause. We are filling our bags ahead of time so we will be ready before Saturday – and encourage you to do the same. Together we can make a difference! Read more about the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. They even supply logos and video to help pass the word along.

Today’s news of the earthquake in Japan is difficult to comprehend.  I am overwhelmed as I watch the news footage of the tragedy.

There is not much that I can do with my small budget, but I can do something. 

EBay makes it as easy as the click of my mouse. They have a Giving Works program that brings in millions of dollars for nonprofit organizations every year – this project is being featured as one to help Japan.  I am going to focus my efforts for the rest of the month. I will make all of my new auctions charity listings with at least 10% going to organizations like the GlobalGiving Project.  I encourage you to do the same when possible. 

You can read more about GlobalGiving on their site.  You can also make a donation directly to the organization on the same site.

There is no possible way to do enough for the people involved.  Many have already lost their lives.  But together we will make a difference for some.

There is a hero mentioned in our local newspaper.  The local Purdue student is, in his own words, addicted to giving back.

Cecil Collins started raising money for school supplies to give to the children at Thomas Miller Elementary in 2007.  He is hoping to raise more in 2011 by starting earlier in the year.   He didn’t know when he began his donation drive this year, but budget cuts will take a bite out of the funding used to buy school supplies over the next three years.  The need will be even greater than it was before.

To read more about how this one young man is making a difference – and how we can help, please see the full article here. 

http://www.jconline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011102070317

This Sunday I had the rare opportunity to be part of a larger than life experience. Because my son is a police officer, I was invited to participate in the photo for the calendar mentioned in the below article from our local WLFI.com.  It was humbling to stand on the hill with cancer survivors,cancer fighter Johnna Parker, and many local first responders. Breast cancer touches so many lives. This was a good way to raise awareness as well as remind the rest of us that our health is something to be so very thankful for. You can see more on the facebook page link given at the bottom of this page.

October 30th, Mustard Seed is having a Fall open house and flea market.  Of course, we hope to be extra busy with customers that day…but a big part of the excitement is that we get the chance to be a good neighbor!

The church just down the road from us is having an Upward Sports event the same day.  We were able to work a small sponsorship amount into our budget.  Carol’s niece is one of the runners. We are giving a coupon to the participants and donating a few items for their door prize drawings.  It has already been a good way for us to get to know our neighbors a bit better and the event hasn’t even happened yet. 

If you are local to the Dayton Indiana area…or within reasonable driving distance, you might want to sign up. The Upward Sports program is helping local children.

You can find the information here:  www.daytonumc.org/run

A long time ago, when eBay still had a blog of it’s own, I joined in with a group that posts penny auctions every Tuesday.  The eBay blog is long gone and the group is very small now, but I still post a penny auction each week.

The last 3 weeks I listed charity auctions for a cookbook specializing in cancer care recipes.  I lost money because I donated 100% and paid the shipping costs for the buyers.  It is my humble opinion that eBay sellers should run some charity auctions from time to time because we are part of our local and our online communities.

Only a small number of my penny auctions are charity auctions though many offer free shipping.  Penny auctions may sell for a penny – but they also get more visibility than higher price auctions. If I end up making less on the item than I spend on shipping then I figure it was advertising expense. 

You can join in if you like.  See this listing to find out how.  The link to the group is at the bottom of the item description.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Encore-500-Jigsaw-Puzzle-1999-Brownsville-VT-Sealed-NR-/370438621494