One to warm your heart

Rarely do I watch news on the TV. It's always depressing. More recently, I've begun to read the local newspaper that's delivered every Friday (courtesy of the former owners who obviously forgot to cancel their subscription). And until I get the bill, I'm going to continue enjoying decent coupons and the ability to flip through the pages at will. However, even if I do get a bill at some point, I think I can pay the $24 a year for stories like this one:

A six-year-old boy receives allowance for doing chores. That in itself is not so newsworthy. But this six-year-old boy takes half of his money and puts it in a savings account in the bank. This is where you sit back and think, "Aww, that's a smart investor, that young'n. He's being wise with his money and for a reward he surely spends the rest on some little toy or game or candy." Nope. The other half of his allowance goes into a "Sharing Jar." Okay, seriously, that in itself gladdens your heart tenfold. But wait, there's more. When this little boy has enough money in his jar, he heads off to Fred Meyer and buys canned goods, which he then donates to a local food bank. He does this a couple times a year!!

Your heart is about to burst, isn't it? Hold onto your socks, folks, we're not done yet. Every year for his birthday this philanthropist insists that instead of presents for his birthday, guests bring food to donate to the food bank instead.

He found out about this specific local food bank when he was attending day care. He is now in first grade and for the past two years, with his grandpa, he has been helping serve food to needy families every Thanksgiving and Christmas. That, to me, is such a touching image: grandpa and grandson working side-by-side to serve others.

The boy was honored for his service by Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus. His reward? A $500 gift to the charity of his choice. And where do you think that went? Yup. Right back to that same food bank. What an inspiration! Seriously, if you don't have a hand pressed against your chest to keep your heart from bursting out and aren't smiling that absurd "awww, that is the most touching thing I've heard in a while" smile, then ... I don't even know what to say to you.

This child does more for the community and humanity than most of us will ever do in our entire lives. Let's take a page from his book and remember to give back.

I challenge us all to do more. Whether it's something small or something grand, take that extra hour you've saved from not being sucked into all that technology ;) and pick up some litter in your local park or take the extra change from your coffee and drop it into the Salvation Army buckets that are soon to be in season. For that matter, forgo your coffee every now and then and put that money into it!

There are so many ways to reach out. Be creative! And come back and leave a comment telling me what you've done, small or big!

In fact, let's start right now. I just received a Heifer Project pamphlet in the mail. Would anybody be interested in starting a fundraiser and helping garner funds to donate a "Gift Ark"? It is $5000 but that translates to FIFTEEN pairs of animals from cows to chickens to guinea pigs.

Give me your feedback. I'd love to do this but I certainly can't do it on my own and am terrified of "fundraising". Perhaps it's a bit ambitious, but I think we can make a virtual "Sharing Jar" and find a way!

Meanwhile, I think I will pick up an extra can or two of food each time I go grocery shopping.