Plant It!

Next time you’re in one of those lumber, home, and garden mega-stores, don’t forget to stop by the plant, shrubbery, and tree sections.

A cool thing to do as a family is to pick out a family tree, and then plant it together in your yard. Take time to learn about the kind of tree you planted, become an expert, and take turns tending to it’s care.

If you don’t have a yard, or live somewhere that you can plant a tree, check out the Arbor Day Foundation and donate a tree instead! Just cuz.

Grow Hair!

No, this isn’t a “How To” magic oil to apply to your scalp, this is a request.

Locks of Love is a nonprofit organization that collects hair from people all over the world, in order to make hair pieces for children suffering from hair loss due to medical treatments.

Unfortunately, I don’t qualify because I’m starting to have more scalp than hair, but if you’re able to, don’t get your hair cut for a few months. When it hits the ten inch mark, go to a salon and tell them you want to donate your hair.  Check out their web site (http://locksoflove.org) for more information.

So let it grow, just cuz a kid may need it!

Donate School Supplies

School is starting in less than a month.

Right now, many nonprofit organizations (like the one I work for) are having annual school supply drives for those kids that may come from families that have to make difficult choices of getting their children school supplies or food.

Check out the nonprofit section in your local telephone book, check around for a drop off point. Then get yourself over to one of the many school supply sales going on, and spend a few bucks to help a child, just cuz.

Give An Extra 42¢

Junk mail abounds!

However, scattered amongst the rubbish we receive on what seems like a daily basis, every once in a while, an envelope from a non-profit organization will appear, asking for a donation.

You’ve seen them, animal protection services, disaster relief agencies, and organizations dedicated to medical research…

Consider giving a donation, big or small, to your favorite organization. After you make out your check, place it in the envelope and seal it, take it one step further and affix a postage stamp on the envelope, especially if it’s a “postage free” return envelope. This will alleviate the cost of postage the organization has to pay to receive your gift. This little bit can go a long way.

Don’t do it cuz it’s just 42¢, do it just cuz…

Raise Money – Lemonade Stand

Teaching children about negative things isn’t always easy. There is almost always a means of making it less gruesome. Teach your kids that there are some children that don’t have all the nice things that others do. Come on, you’re a parent – you know how to pour on the guilt!

Seriously, though, I think it’s a great way to build character in a child. And letting them know that there is a way that they can help is cool too! Convince them to run a lemonade stand; in fact, run it with them! Ask them what kind of charity they would like the nickels and dimes to go to. Try to pick one in your area, and have your child (or children) bring the money directly to the charity, so they can see how it works.

Just cuz…

Raise Money – Have A Car Wash

Grab your buckets, brushes, rags, and soap! Call your neighbors, other members of your place of worship, and colleagues. Have your teenage kids call their friends. Get together at your local gas station and have yourself a summer car wash, with proceeds going to a cause that’s near to your heart. It could be a local non-profit, or a library, or use it to purchase new choir robes for your local high school choir.

It’s a great way to work as a community to better your community. It doesn’t take too much time and effort, and you’re doing it to help others… just cuz.

Raise Money – Have A Dog Wash

Interacting with people is almost always a positive thing. If you interact while you’re doing something for someone else, it’s just that much more rewarding.

How great would it be if you started your own fund raising club? Once a month, your group could pick a cause to support. Get your family involved, as well as your neighbors, classmates, or people from your local place of worship.

Every once in a while, I’m going to try to come up with a means of raising money. Even if it ends up being five dollars, that’s five dollars that your cause didn’t have before your event.

During this summer, go to your local animal shelter or humane society, and ask them if you can have a Saturday Dog Wash on their property in order to raise money for their organization. Not only will you be able to give them a few bucks, you’ll be sudsing somebody’s schnauzer, cleaning somebody’s collie. Perhaps even getting another companion animal adopted by someone who has room for one more!

Good luck with the money raising! Have fun, and do it just cuz animals need some happiness too.

Please Do Feed The Animals

Thousands of cats, dogs, and other companion animals are abandoned every day. The Humane Society and other shelters are overcrowded and underfunded, and unfortunately, many of these animals die every day because of overpopulation.

The next time you’re doing your grocery shopping, and you’re picking up some kibble for your dog, or some crunchy cat food for your feline, consider purchasing an extra bag (or two) and make a stop at the nearest humane society or shelter (preferably a no-kill shelter) and give a cat or dog a chance.

Check your local listings for the shelters or Humane Society nearest you. If you’re capable, make a donation, just cuz.

Support Your Local School, Theater Group, Fire House

Summer is here!

Next time you’re driving home from the supermarket, and you pass that gas station that is swarming with a bunch of teens with signs that read “Car Wash!” — why not stop and support them.

Many schools have gone through major budget cuts in the last several years, and one way to raise money for school activities is through bake sales, car washes, and other sales-type events.

Support a school in your area, even though you may not have kids going to that school.

Do it just cuz.

Gotta Quarter?

Some may think that this one is a little weird, but I think it’s kind of fun.

Isn’t it a great feeling when you use a payphone and there’s a quarter in the change machine? Or when you’re walking down the street and you find a dime, quarter, or if you are lucky a dollar? I often wonder where this money comes from! I know that obviously someone dropped it, but then I think of the times that I didn’t realize I had dropped a quarter – who got it?

Next time you buy a newspaper at one of those coin-operated machines, leave enough change on the top of the box so that the next guy can get a free paper. For the next guy, it’s like finding money. Okay, it’s not LIKE finding money, it actually IS finding money. But you may make that person’s day.

Why do something like this? Cuz it’s just a quarter, and, well, just cuz…