Archive for the Category »Living outside ourselves «

Oct
01
Blog Luv – October 2009
Amy

28%.  The city of Detroit faced an unemployment rate of 28% for the month of July.  Keeping hope alive in such times cannot be easy.  And yet, that’s precisely what Pastor Henry Covington has set out to do.  He turned his life around, now he’s encouraging others to do the same – one blanket, one meal, one kind word at a time.  And he’ll continue doing so even if the church building crumbles about him, and he’s forced to conduct services in the snow.  “I’m where I’m suppose to be,” he says.  I imagine the lives he’s helped save will agree. 

Read more about Pastor Covington and his work in Mitch Albom’s article, “Finding the Silver Lining,” published in Parade magazine. 

Our mission for the month of October:

Let’s encourage Pastor Covington and the volunteers of I am My Brother’s Keeper ministry.  It takes $250 to provide for an individual through the cold winter months.  Our individual dollar won’t do it – but together we can!

Donate online; or, if you prefer, mail directly to the church. 

http://www.iammybrotherskeeper-pc.org

Pilgrim Church / I Am My Brother’s Keeper
1435 Brainard
Detroit, MI 48208

Category: Living outside ourselves  Tags:  2 Comments
Sep
30
Triple dog dare
Amy

I have come to the conclusion that narcissism is tiring business.  Since jumping on the blogging bandwagon I have blogged, commented, and otherwised blabbed about myself more often than I care to admit.  It’s exhausting!  Of course, when Magpie and Muttonfly started, I would interrupt the regularly-scheduled-all-about-me program with ways to give back.  Lately, however, I simply haven’t the money to give; and I imagine you are in much the same boat.

But then I got to thinking…

There are a lot of us out there.  According to Technorati, more than 1.5 million posts are indexed.  Every.  Single.  Day. There are even more readers. We span continents, time zones, social brackets.  We’re people of all ages, all races, all religions.  We’re reporters, encouragers, comedians, grumblers, fashionistas, DIY-ers.

What if we used our powers for good?

What if we, the blogging community, joined forces to give back?  Think about it.  One dollar, all by its little ol’ lonesome, could not even satisfy the need for chocolate.  But one dollar multiplied?  Then we have something to work with.   

Such is my proposal …

Starting tomorrow, the first of each month I will post charity.  It will be similar to my “Living outside ourselves” posts.  I’ll give a bit of background, Charity Navigator rating (if available), and how you can give. I’m asking you to join me.  Give, if you can – and spread the word.  I’m taking down my store, and replacing it with a page dedicated to this project so you’ll be able to direct people to one spot. And a project button is on it’s way (the thrill!  the excitement!  I know.).

Let’s give back.  Let’s make a difference.  Together. 

Category: Living outside ourselves  Tags: ,  5 Comments
Aug
27
Gone to the dogs
Amy

The funny thing about working from home is you never quite know what your title might be; it changes from day-to-day, minute-by-minute.  I may be a writer, an editor, a researcher – a maid, a chef, or chauffeur.  Yesterday I was pups-sitter-extraordinaire.   My charge was a pups named Bella Blue …

bella_blue

Someday Bella will be a great hunting dog.  But for now, a grouping of finches were a bit disconcerting.  She had to stay close.  Not that I minded, mind you.  All the closer to kiss that sweet face… 

bella

Still, we managed to play, and munch treats, and gulp water, and play, and meet lots of new friends.  It was enough to make one very sleepy…

sleepy_pups

But the little miss missed her sister, and begged me to go home …

pretty_pups

So we did.  And she was very happy.  Unfortunately, her big sister Tilly did not share the love …

tilly_pups

Someday. 

 

Category: Living outside ourselves  Tags:  One Comment
Jun
19
The gift of goat
Amy

For my U.S. readers, Father’s Day is Sunday … just in case it slipped your mind.  And if you don’t know what on earth you’re going to get him, how about a goat?  A goat is one of many alternative gift ideas offered by World Vision.   Is your dad a sports fanatic?  Donate a couple soccer balls.  A fisherman?  Donate a fishing kits.  A health nut?  Donate some fruit trees.  What could be more simple – or meaningful?  In one fell swoop you can give a gift to a member of your family, and a family on the other side of the world.  It’s perfect for the dad who has everything … for the dad who taught you it’s better to give than receive … for the dad who is no longer here on earth, but whose memory lives on …

Interested in this charity?

World Vision received an overall rating of 3-Stars from Chartiy Navigator.   You can read the full report here; or, you can click the link, above, to visit World Vision’s site directly.

Category: Living outside ourselves  One Comment
May
06
Living outside ourselves: NARSAD
Amy

I remember traveling to the “big city” as a kid and laughing at the “crazy” people on the streets.   They wore strange clothing.  They mumbled to themselves.  They even broke forth in loud, unintelligable tirades, suddenly, without warning.  They were funny. 

And then mental illness touched my own life.

Suddenly I knew the people others would call crazy.  They were my friends; they were family.  I knew them before their brain short-circuited.  I knew their mental illness was not who they were.  They were fun, witty, intelligent, giving – immensely gifted.  They didn’t ask to be prisoners of their own minds.  At times, they even cried out for help, but we could never truly understand; we couldn’t make it better.  We could do little more than watch, helpless - hoping for a day when there would be more than a temporary fix. 

Suddenly, “crazy” was no longer something that made me laugh, it broke my heart.      

NARSAD believes in a world without mental illness - and they strive each and every day to make it a reality.  NARSAD invests in the best and brightest scientific minds throughout the world to unravel the complexities of schizophrenia, depression, anxiety and many other psychiatric diseases. Then, [they] continue to support the researchers as they use their findings to develop next-generation diagnostics and treatments for these conditions. With enough effort, NARSAD expects scientists someday to discover preventions and cures for these devastating illnesses.

But they can only continue this quest with our help.  Won’t you consider giving today?  Give in support of loved ones who must live with mental illness; give in thankfulness for those you love, whose minds are whole.   

Interested in this charity?

NARSAD received four-stars on Charity Navigator.  Click here to review the full report.  Or visit NARSAD’s website directly - learn more about mental disorders and how you can be a part of building a brighter future for us all …

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