For a while now, I’ve wanted to donate in some way to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London because they do the most important work in the city, namely looking after sick kids.

Well, today I went one better than a donation and joined Friends of GOSH, which is part of GOSHCC (the hospital’s Children’s Charity) and helps to raise money for essential things the hospital needs. My mum used to work for the hospital, and I’m really glad I’ve finally done this.

Comment by Alex on 1/12/2006 @ 11:55 am

Today I decided to connect with the local food pantry. So I went to my cabinets and started pulling out some foodstuffs - canned goods, boxed meals, spaghetti sauce - essentials I totally take for granted. Then I added a few fun things - fruit snacks, chips, pudding mixes - little things that might make bring a little smile to a tough situation. Now I could have gone to the grocery store in town and picked up a pre-packaged bag of stuff, but I wanted the donation to be from my cupboards. It reminded me of how lucky I am to be able to give and it also reminded me of the story of the first time I collected “food for the needy” - click on the link above and scroll down to find my Chalkboard post about the “Catholic School Con Artist.”

Comment by Jenna on 1/12/2006 @ 1:36 pm

As a relatively new mom, I am very concerned with the welfare of moms and babies (not that I’m dissing the dads, it’s just my area). I am blessed with the physical ability to take care of my child and we have money to feed all three of us. I can’t imagine the struggle of caring for children in poverty. When I went to my OB appointment for my second child, they gave me formula which I knew I wasn’t going to use. Since it’s too late to call today, I’m going to call Care Net tomorrow and offer them the formula. If it helps one mom and baby just a little, it’s time well spent.

Comment by Jaimie on 1/12/2006 @ 6:10 pm

About this time 3 years ago I got a call one nite from someone at the American Heart Association. They were looking for someone in my neighborhood to send out cards to my neighbors asking for money for the organization. I was weak that nite and I said I would do it. A month later I got my package. I sent out 15 letters with personalized notes, pd for the stamps and addressed them and waited for the money to roll in. Actually I did pretty good. I kept 90% and I was happy that I asked for cash only, no checks and sent a huge 10 % out to AHA. Really, I got checks only and sent them out! In retrospect the truth is that my dad and all my uncles died of heart attacks. Sounds like it runs in the family.
Anyway, today I got my packet and I sat down and in a wippy jif I got them all done tonite!

Comment by Walt Kotecki on 1/12/2006 @ 8:29 pm

I think shopping online is a wonderful thing….I buy everything from stamps to all of my Christmas gifts online. And I’m able to support a worthwhile cause at the same time! I’m a member of igive.com, a site that has hundreds of name brand online stores and websites that will donate a percentage of your purchase to the charity or not for profit group of your choice. I’m choosing to donate to Twinless Twins Support Group, a group that I’m a part of, that supports individuals who have lost a twin. It allows me to donate throughout the year in a pretty simple way - who knew buying my computer paper would be so philanthropic?

And about a Kim & Jason related cause, I’ve coordinated my own “escape plan” of sorts…Operation: Escape Adulthood. Since I read Jason’s book, I decided that I know MANY “stressed out grown-ups” that could benefit from his eight secrets. So I’ve ordered several copies of the book, and have been sharing Jason’s wisdom with people around me (free of charge - which is a totally cool surprise to the recipients!).

Today I shared four (4) books - 3 went to co-workers of mine, and 1 to one of my patients. It was so great to see their smiles and excitement to read the book! So far I’ve passed along 26 copies of Jason’s book….to my friends, family, my mailman and our hospital’s CEO!

Comment by Marci on 1/12/2006 @ 9:41 pm

Neither one of us has an organization that we are really involved in. So we took some time to research different organizations and what they stand for. We learn some really great things.

Comment by Doug and Katie on 1/13/2006 @ 5:31 pm

[...] I have been asked by Kim and Jason to take part in their Adultitis Escape Plan, a 40-day plan to become more childlike (not childish)and to reduce stress and prevent dullness, depression and [insertanother word beginning with ‘d’ here]. Of course I’m gonna do it. Dreary-ness, that begins with ‘D’. The ninth task: Do one thing today to support a cause or issue you really care about.Today (well, yesterday… sorry), I wrote a letter to Tony Abbott, our Federal Minister for Health and Ageing. Mr Abbott is well known (in Australia anyway) as having strong views against abortion, and lots of people (well, maybe lots, I’m not sure, but they are very vocal) don’t like the fact that he has beliefs different to theirs and happens to be in a position where those beliefs can affect public police.I’m very much against abortion (it’s a horrible thing to kill a child), and so I wrote a letter to Mr Abbott encouraging him to not cave in on his views, that people voted him in to office knowing what those views were, and that there are at least some people who think he’s doing the right thing in promoting options to abortion.RodeoClown: hates the idea of killing a baby because you don’t feel like having it.  « The Funniest Joke Ever     [...]

Pingback by The Rodeo » Blog Archive » Escape plan template on 1/14/2006 @ 12:21 am

I wrote to our federal Minister for Health and Ageing regarding abortion.

Comment by Ian Tyrrell on 1/15/2006 @ 5:36 pm

When I think about a cause I care about, many come to mind, but one that has had a personal impact on my life is Camp Courageous of Iowa (www.campcourageous.org). I volunteered with the camp for several years when I was a teenager. It’s a camp for people of all disabilities of all age ranges. The things I learned, how the grew, the friendships I made are indescribable & still carry a very fond place in my heart. Today, I finally wrote Charlie Becker, the director, to thank him & all the people (staff, volunteers & campers) over the years for touching my life & to let them now how much their service does make a difference. Even though I haven’t worked with camp for 11 years, I still call it home in may ways. I hope that some day I will be able to give back again to them for all they have given to me.

Comment by Sue on 2/12/2006 @ 5:11 pm