Encouragement in Tough Times

**mauimagic** · 03-11-2009, 10:59 PM

Quiltin Mama - mahalo plenty for reviving this thread. I just finished reading every post - had tears in my eyes and a smile on my face.

People care - sometimes we just need someone like to resurrect the words that touch our hearts.

God bless.

**frugalfoster** · 03-12-2009, 11:19 PM

I'm a hairstylist. I have a client who is terminal with lung cancer. She takes chemo by pill so it hasn't caused her hair to fall out. Each of us, gives the other a gift. I fix her hair....I don't charge her....because although I have no medicinal powers... for that day I can make her feel better. In return, she teaches me what it is to fight for life....not to waste it and how everyday is a gift. It's the relationships in life that are important, not the possessions!!

QM · 03-12-2009, 11:26 PM

About a month or so ago, there was an awesome deal I found at a Wal-Mart Supercentre. I price-matched the flier at Zellers that was a lot closer to my home (to save on gas) and bought 50 boxes of Kellogg's 350 g boxes of cereal for 49 cents each using the price matching and coupons. I gave a few to my SIL who has three kids and short on cash and donated about 40 to the local food bank. I was really happy to know that some kids/people will have breakfast in the morning.

**HomeschoolMom** · 03-13-2009, 09:59 AM

What a beautiful thread! Loved the inspiring stories and quotes. Thank you! Just what I needed to help me realize how much good there is in this world and how many are hurting so much more than we are.
Thank you!!!

**sabrelvssammy** · 03-13-2009, 10:52 AM

well i don't know if this counts but being a landlord i am constantly left with a 'barrage' of things by former tenants....i don't know why they leave behind some of the 'perfectly-usable' things....furniture, clothes, dishes, nicknacks...(even fridges full of food)... alot of the landlords in my area just have the stuff loaded up to take to the dump...i too have to haul many a thing off...but i do take the time to sort thru things and anything that is still usable i give to other tenants or neighbors or people on the street.... if someone doesn't specifically come by and get things i offer then we drag things out to the street and put out a free sign....most stuff is gone within an hour..they take everything...(one time they even took my free-sign)....i also once loaded my pick-up and drove thru the town and 'handed' things out to people that i saw (that was before i realized...'put it out...they will come'.....it breaks my heart when i go to the dump with my 'true-junk' and i see all the perfectly good items thrown in...(unfortunately i can't get them coz these are big dumpsters that are put into the ground and you back up to them to unload...(there are alot of things i would do for someone but i am drawing the line at climbing into one of 'those'.....besides i would probably get buried by the others surrounding the dumpsters throwing their stuff in.." lol

we used to load the stuff and haul it off to st.vinny's but i found that a 'free-sign' works wonders....and we get a ton of thanks from the people at the curb....one mans junk is certainly anothers treasure....

QM · 06-14-2009, 02:30 PM

This week I plan to fill a bag of groceries, etc. for the local food drive in our city. I noticed at the last food drive (a few months ago) that so many more people are giving now that we're in a recession. It's sad that it takes something like a recession for people to open up their pocketbooks and hearts to help those in need. May we all learn to give as we should...

**Shelli_wnj** · 06-18-2009, 11:40 AM

We have been having a hard time of it since my husband left. A friend from church saw us in walmart and asked us for a ride home. She wanted to get more groceries than she could carry. I said no reason needed, just meet us past the checkout when she was done. She came with a cartload of groceries. We loaded our stuff up, got in the car and drove off. When we arrived at her house, she got out with about 4 grocery bags. I asked her if I could help her bring the rest up. She said not to worry, the rest was for us! I'm crying again just typing it out. The stuff she bought actually got us through the winter!!!

**mauimagic** · 06-18-2009, 12:01 PM

So glad this thread is still around.

I was able to get summer jobs at my school for several people who were having a challenging time this year. Know that not only will help them, but also our children.

**strezzed** · 06-18-2009, 12:39 PM

Just wanted to say what a wonderful thread! Thank you for starting it Quiltin' Mama!

**Thevail** · 06-21-2009, 05:38 AM

I came, I saw, I read.... I was inspired! I showed my neighbors exactly what kind of wonderful people you all are!
We decided to take all our fun money for the month and do something good.

So then the other girls in the neighborhood and I got together and all of us "girls" ( I use quotes 'cause there isn't one of us under 40) spent a whole afternoon laughing and joking and hitting EVERY SALVAGE GROCERY IN TOWN. Not just because we are sooo lucky to all have stable finances right now.. but because we felt it was a way to help others and HONOR ALL OF YOU!

We bought two van loads of stuff and took it all to the local food bank, and donated it in the name of Anonymous from FV.

Never think that what you do, however small or local can't touch someone else far away. It just DID!