Helping Willy

I saw with my own eyes how the cooperation described in the Stone Soup Story can produce results. The owner of our company is very involved with the homeless, so we have contact with lots of people with special needs. A deaf man stopped by on Tuesday and said that he needed food. In fact, he needed enough food to last him one week.

The good news that he just got a job at Walmart---the bad news is that his 1st paycheck wouldn't come for a week. He was out of food and hungry. A mass email was sent out to my co-workers and in one day’s time enough food was gathered to feed this man breakfast, lunch and dinner for over a week.

Some people dipped into their stash at work providing cans of tuna, soup, chili and ravioli. Others looked in their home pantries and brought in peanut butter, cheese, boxed casseroles and soda. Others went to the store and picked up meat, eggs, pumpkin pie, bread and fresh fruit.

Due to the quick nature of needing this food it was only by the process of cooperation and compassion that this small endeavor was accomplished. (We started with just a stone.)

Each of us helping just a little...helps a lot

Thanksgiving

HAPPY THANKSGIVING !

Helping our Neighbors

This is my beautiful neighbor --- Miss Stella. She will be 97 years old on December 13th.

So many people are dedicated to providing support to organized non-profit groups, but let’s not forget our elderly neighbors and people right in our community that need a little help.

Helping doesn’t have to involve money…

• Offer to pick up groceries


• Take someone to the doctor or pick up their medication


• Pick up their mail


• Visit, talk, provide companionship, develop a personal connection

We all know that large non-profits help lots of people, but it's just as important to help one.

Peace

KIVA

There is a great organization called KIVA. This group facilitates the loaning of money to the working poor. The borrowers barely make enough money to clothe, feed and shelter their families.

Most families are independent entrepreneurs. Through hard work and dedication they are hopeful to make a better life with a little support from people who are more fortunate.

This is really a loan and not charity. I have been paid back on many loans. You have the option to have the money refunded to you or you can reinvest in someone else’s future.

I am one of several individuals that loaned money to the lady above. Her name is Elizabeth and she lives in Peru. She borrowed $1025 to in order to purchase another tricycle for her juice business. I am happy to say that she paid back every penny.

THIS IS A GREAT SITE. I’m very proud to have a small part in this caring organization.

Check out their website at www.kiva.org.

Free Rice

Another great organization dedicated to ending world hunger and improving education for everyone is called Free Rice.

Here’s the catch: you don’t donate money but you play multiple choice games intended to help you improve your vocabulary and grammar. The sponsors of the site donate 20 grains of rice for every correct answer.

Many people say that playing the games on this site is addictive. Better than playing video games and they are using their time doing something that helps reduce hunger.

The advertiser and sponsors of this site pay for the food and the rice is donated through the United Nation World Food Program.

Help yourself…Help others

www.freerice.com

Exotic Feline Rescue Center

The Exotic Feline Rescue Center is located in Center Point, Indiana.

This is close to our home. I have been taking my Nieces and Nephews there since they were little. (Today most of them are in college but I bet they still remember all the "Big Cats" at EFRC.)

You can donate money directly to the organization or support them by paying an admission when you visit the site. Only $10 per adult and $5 per child. This is not your ordinary ZOO. Definitely a must see if you are in Indiana.

The director has been saving big cats for over fifteen years. They currently have over 190 exotic felines. Most of these animals have been rescued due to being mistreated, abandoned or abused.

They Now Have a Home for Life

Truly a powerful place to visit and money well spent.

www.exoticfelinerescuecenter.org

Anna's House

Beggars for the Poor

Anna’s House was founded by Luscious Newsom. Luscious's favorite saying was that he "was a beggar for the poor". He saw the need to feed the poor in the Stringtown/Haughville area of Indianapolis. After years of feeding the needy from a vacant lot he was able to raise funds to have Anna’s House built. Anna’s house not only provides food, but also much needed services such as snack program for local children, tutoring, job training, medical and dental.

Anna’s house was named after Anna Molloy who tirelessly helped Luscious feed the poor every Saturday even though Anna struggled with her own health issues. Before Anna’s House was built, Anna would helped with the program even on the coldest days.

Both Luscious and Anna are no longer with us but their legacy continues in Anna’s House.

http://www.annascelebration/oflife.com/annashouse.html

The Stone Soup Story

Today my brother Steven mentioned the Grimm Brother’s story called "Stone Soup".

Wow! I haven’t thought of this story since I was a child.

The story goes something like this: there were some hungry travelers that came into a village and no one would give them any food. So they started cooking a rock in a big black pot with only water as the broth. One of the villagers came by and peered into the soup. He said "Are you cooking a rock?". The travelers reply "yes kind sir…we are making a delicious soup called Stone Soup. It is quite good and would be especially better if we had some potatoes to add". The man said…I have a few potatoes to spare and promptly got them so they could be added to the soup. Then a woman stopped by the pot. The travelers said "we are making our famous stone soup. The only problem is that it would taste much better with a few carrots".

I think you can guess the rest of the story. People continued to bring vegetables and meat until the stew was really an edible and nourishing meal. The soup was then shared with all.

The story speaks to cooperation, teamwork and everyone being better off due to their sharing of resources

So Let’s Make Soup