Week 19 - Stamp Out Food...Success!

So last week was Week 19, and we participated in the national food drive "Stamp Out Hunger" that is spearheaded by the US Post Office. This is a really cool idea, and the boys got a kick out of putting food into our mailbox instead of letters.

We stuffed our mailbox on Saturday with oyster crackers, elbow, pasta, chocolate pudding, and two packages of wild berry muffin mix - some of our family's staple food items. 

To learn more about "Stamp Out Hunger" - be sure to visit their Facebook page. I was surprised that this was their 20th year of doing it. They are still collecting totals, but the numbers that individual areas are reporting are pretty impressive!

Week 17 and 18 - Shower Someone

The idea for this one was not my own. I had seen it pinned on Pinterest several months ago and repinned it for when we could use it.

These are Blessings Bags (see the original idea here), bags to give to the homeless.

Last week was our first St. Louis Cardinals game for the season, and we parked in our usual spot, walking our usual route down the street to Busch Stadium.

And, we saw the usual people: Cardinals fans, street vendors, and a couple homeless people begging for change.

It didn't sink in until after the game as to what we needed to do. I remembered my Pinterest pin from this winter, and our plan was hatched.

We had been given tickets to another game this week, so the boys and I headed to WalMart to pick up the items to be put into our Blessings Bag. Here is what we decided on:

• toothbrush
• toothpaste
• mouth wash
• comb
• Clorox wipes
• baby wipes
• Tylenol
• first aid kit
• tissues
• bar soap
• shampoo
• deodorant
• lotion
• germ-x
• chapstick
• gum
• granola bar
• crackers with peanut butter

I then slipped all the items neatly into a one gallon ziploc bag and added a Bible verse in the front. We made two of these bags, as we had seen two homeless men on our last walk to the stadium.

So last night was the game. I carried the bags in my tote, and Noah had an eye out for a homeless person to bless. And, we didn't see a single person to give the bags to. We were a little disappointed.

Plan B: pass the bags to our neighbors who are going to the baseball game tonight!

Week 13 - Ice Cream (just a little late!)...Success!

Lion's Choice

Today we had to run to the orthodontist...again. Our 8 year old's head gear wasn't fitting properly, so back we go to get it adjusted.

And, surprise!  No more head gear - we are moving on to a full time retainer. So he got to pick out a cool retainer with a design on it, from about 30 choices. Why didn't they have fun retainers when I had to wear them?

So to reward the boys on how well behaved they were at the office, we went to Lion's Choice for ice cream cones.

Our 10 cent ice cream!

Their ice cream is delicious! And, it's only 15 cents for a small cone, or 29 cents for it to be dipped in chocolate. They must have been running a special today, though, as I only paid 48 cents for 4 cones. Yum!

The two unsuspecting vehicles behind us.

Then on impulse, I decided we would pay the tab for the car behind us. Then I overheard the cashier tell the next car their total, which I thought was just 30 cents. Sweet! When the cashier handed me my last two cones, I handed him my debit card and said I would like to pay for the two orders behind me.

He stared at me. He was a little confused.

"The two orders behind you?" he wanted to clarify.

"Yes," I said.

He finally took my card and then gave me the receipts. Both vehicles had ordered 2 roast beef sandwiches. I didn't have time to watch their reactions in the mirror, but I am sure they were a bit baffled. :D

Week 14 - Fry the Chicken...Success!

First day of Week 14, and we are finished with it already!

Mike took this one on his own...fry the chicken.

Today was the annual Lions Club Chicken Dinner to raise money for the Union Lions Club. What does this club do with the money?

The money goes directly back to the community. One of the main focuses for the club is to provide better eyesight for community members. When the club hears of a child or an adult who needs glasses, the Lions Club pays for an exam as well as a pair of glasses for the person in need.

The Union Lions Club has also provided park amenities to our local parks department, including a set of nice swings. Each year the club also gives out several small college scholarships to local high school students.


The mission statement for the Lions Club International:

To empower volunteers to serve their communities, meet humanitarian needs, encourage peace and promote international understanding through Lions clubs.

So, this morning Mike spent over 4 hours frying chicken for the meal today.

And it was some good chicken! The club also served mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, corn, cole slaw, applesauce, rolls, and dessert. This was an all-you-can-eat meal, and club outdid themselves this year.

Note: I realize we skipped Week 13. Somehow the week got away from us, so we will be doing it this week.

Week 3 - Serve a Meal

So this week we are going to serve a meal...

The First Presbyterian Church in our hometown hosts a free dinner every Tuesday night for anyone who would like to come. According to the information on their church website, they serve about 40 meals each week.

Tonight we will be helping to set up for the meal, helping to serve, and then helping to clean up afterwards. When I called the church to find out if we could come help, she said this week is the week they are usually short on helpers - go figure! I wonder how it is that this week we wanted to help...<wink>...

Isn't it amazing how Someone works things out?

Challenge for you: Find a way to serve someone this week - maybe it's having another family over for dinner...family fun and service in one