Week 47: A week to be thankful for

I hope each of you had a relaxing Thanksgiving with your friends and families.  If you have a roof over your head, warm food to eat and a family that loves you, you have a lot to be thankful for.

I figured I couldn't ask all of you to give up your time to volunteer during the holidays if I didn't do it myself.  Here is a highlight from my Thanksgiving week of service:

Thanksgiving with the Sacramento Kings

Monday, November 19th

Spent the evening with volunteers from the Sacramento Kings serving Thanksgiving meals to families in need in the Sacramento area.  This was a family friendly event.  Even the Kings players brought their kids to help serve.  I definitely want to participate in this event next year.

Run to Feed the Hungry

Thursday, November 22nd

Ran the 5k in support of the

Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services is a local, non-profit agency committed to serving individuals and families in need. With a staff of 40 and a volunteer force of over 5,000, Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services provides free emergency goods and services to 15,000 unduplicated men, women and children each month.

Salvation Army - Thanksgiving Meal Service

Served meals to homeless families from the Sacramento area.  This was another family friendly volunteer event but fills up quickly, so you will need to sign up in advance to participate next year.

When I first arrived at the Salvation Army on North B Street, Downtown Sacramento, people were lined up outside waiting.  It was a very sobering experience to see people of kinds standing in the freezing cold for a hot meal.  Once we were assigned our volunteer duties for the day, people started filtering in for meals.  Again, it was a very diverse group of people.  The people we served were grateful and many of them had second and third helpings.  THE LITTLE BOY ON THE LEFT IS WHAT MADE MY THANKSGIVING COMPLETE.   

I was lucky enough to serve him and his grandmother.  This lady is raising her grandson RIGHT.  He was the most respectful, polite young man I have ever met.  When he first got there he wished us a Happy Thanksgiving all on his own.  And every other word was "please" and "thank you".  The picture on the right captures my asking him which food was his favorite.  Pointing to all off the items on his plate, he said "this, and this, and this, and this, and this..."  He was thankful for every part of his meal. 

What a humble reminder not to take my many blessings for granted.

Until next time...

Adopt A Family for the holidays

For those of you who want to make a difference this holiday season but just can't spare the time to volunteer, please consider the Adopt A Family program. 

Last year, our office adopted a family of 4 and we were able to provide all of the gifts from their wish list.  I can only imagine the looks on their faces when they opened up their gifts.  It is such a great feeling to know that you made someone's day. 

Adopting a family is simple.  Click the link below, choose a family from the list and shop for the gifts on their wish list. 
http://www.adoptafamilysac.org/

If you are outside the Sacramento area, please reach out to your local volunteer organizations to find at list of participating organizations for this season.


Thank you and Happy Holidays!

Turkey Turkey Turkey!!

Got up bright and early this morning to join some other Wells Fargo volunteers at the Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services for the 5th Annual Turkey Drive.  We helped to collect thousands of frozen turkeys, canned and dry goods for needy families in our area.  The food that was collected will be distributed to families on Monday.  While speaking with a SFBFS team member, I was advise that they served over 8,000 families last year.  

Hundreds of very giving families and businesses came through the donation line this morning but there were a few moments that stuck with me throughout the day.  One in particular was a gentleman that came through with a truck bed full of turkeys and I told him I hope he has a nice day.  He just stopped, looked me straight in the eye, and said that he has a lot of nice days but he wants to help lots of other people have a nice day too.  THAT IS THE SPIRIT OF GIVING.

If you missed out on the Turkey Drive today, you can help support the Sacramento Food Bank by joining me and thousands of others at Sac State for next week's Run to Feed the Hungry.  The event is a 5k or 10k walk/run and supports a great cause.  Plus, think of all the guiltless extra calories you can eat later at Thanksgiving dinner. 

 Until next time...

Holiday Volunteer Opportunties - Make the most out of this holiday season

Last Thanksgiving was the busiest and MOST FULFILLING HOLIDAY I have EVER had. 

Unlike previous years, I spent the first half of my day surrounded by members of the community and families that were much less fortunate than myself.  In the morning, I participated in the Run to Feed the Hungry benefiting the Sacramento Food Bank.  Afterward, I went straight over to the Salvation Army to help serve Thanksgiving meals to the homeless.  I can't even begin to describe how full my heart was when I headed home that afternoon.  I have decided to make it a holiday tradition.

The holiday season is the perfect time of the year to get involved and give back.  I would add that it is also important to get your children involved.  The next 6 weeks will come and go in the blink of an eye.  It is very easy to get caught up in the frenzy of holiday shopping, parties, travel, etc...I hope that you will find a few hours in your busy schedule to step back and give back. 

In addition to a list of volunteer opportunities with Salvation Army, I have included links to some other local organizations that could use your help this holiday season...I also hope you will share your stories with the rest of us by posting a comment to this blog or emailing ashornml@gmail.com

Adopt a Family

Sacramento Food Bank - Coming Up! Run to Feed the Hungry

Food Bank of Yolo - Coming Up! Running of the Turkeys

Loaves and Fishes

Salvation Army - Coming Up! Angel Tree

Week 43: Habitat Build

I spent this past Saturday working on a Habitat for Humanity renovation.  HFH is an organization that gets a lot of buz in the community and it was about time that I experienced it for myself. 

If you are looking for a great team building volunteer opportunity, this is one that I would highly recommend. 

The experience was one that took me outside of my comfort zone and gave me a glimpse into the reality that many families face.  The home we were renovating was in a significantly low income area of Sacramento.  Much different from the neighborhoods that I am accustomed to.  Most of the houses on the street were in poor condition.  Many were boarded up or torn down.  From what I could tell by the neighbors coming and going, it was also quite diverse.  

Two SHFH families were on site with us throughout the day, and were very appreciative of our help.  The team lead for our volunteer group had provided lunch for everyone.  One of the mom's had never had Togo's before and kept saying how delicious it was and thanking us.  She was even more grateful when she was able to take home the leftovers. 

We spent the day prepping the interior of the home for paint.  There was no experience necessary and all tools/materials were provided.  There was plenty of work to be done and it was a messy job.  At the end of the day, I felt accomplished.  The entire day served as a reminder of all the things that I have been blessed with and shouldn't take for granted. 

What is Habitat for Humanity?

Sacramento Habitat for Humanity, an ecumenical housing ministry based on Christian principles founded in 1985, is a local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International whose mission is to eliminate poverty housing worldwide and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience.  SHfH is one of almost 1600 affiliates serving the United States and 90 developing countries around the world.

As individuals and an organization we:

• Recognize our social and moral responsibility to help the working poor
• Seek and work in dynamic partnerships to develop our community
• Work to increase overall home ownership in Sacramento County

-  SHFH is a non-profit 501(c)(3), private, non-governmental organization

- Serves Sacramento County relying on the local community for volunteers, materials, services and financial contributions to fulfill our mission

- An empowerment program, not an entitlement program, giving people a hand-up not a hand-out

Interested in volunteering in the Sacramento area?

Christine A. Roybal

(916) 440-1215 ext. 1115

croybal@shfh.org

Week 42 - Reflection

Looking back on this past week, I feel incredibly inspired.  I know that the mission of "52 Weeks 1 Difference" was to inspire others.  Ironically, the more time I give, the more I learn about all of the AMAZING programs and people that exist in our community.

A movie quote keeps coming to mind.  The movie, Country Strong, was kind of a downer.  However, I love Gwenyth Paltrow's line, "Fall in love with as many things as possible."  That is how I have felt throughout this journey.  My initial thought was that I would volunteer at 52 places and find one or two things that I felt really passionate about.  It turns out, I was wrong.

I am passionate about everything!  I am passionate about children.  I am passionate about hard working mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, and grandparents who just need a little help making ends meet .  I am passionate about cleaning up our rivers and our parks.  I am passionate about solar technology, or anything else that will ensure we leave our planet in better shape than we found it.  I am passionate about bees (of all things), because every living thing has a purpose on this earth.  Furthermore, after a few meetings with the Board of Junior League, I am passionate about their Read and Feed Garden and the Children's Theatre, too.  The fact of the matter is, whatever YOU are passionate about, I am passionate about. 

Passion is contagious.  When I listened to the CEO of The Greenway Foundation talk about their vision for the parks and waterways in Denver, I fell in love with the organization.  I felt the same way about the Trust for Public Land, when they described a park they built for an underpriviliged community full of kids that need a safe place to play.  I caught the fever when the founders of Grid Alternatives reflected back on their vision for solar in 2003.  Then, fast forward to 2012 where GRID has impacted thousands of families accross California.

The moral of this story..."Fall in love with as many things as possible".  We don't have to limit ourselves.  We can be passionate about all sorts of things.  You don't have to volunteer 52 different places.  Find your own way but find SOME way.

***

Week 42 Recap:
Junior League of Sacramento - Community Advisory Board Meeting
Eureka Unified School District - Fall Festival
AIDS Walk

Upcoming:
Habitat for Humanity Build, October 20th
Breast Cancer Walk, Sacramento, October 21st
Read and Feed Garden Harvest Festival (Junior League), October 27th

Still Looking for Bike Donations - If you have a used bike to donate to Cycles for Hope, please email me at ashornml@gmail.com

Thank you!

Looking for Bikes

Looking for Bikes...

• I am currently looking for donations of new or used children and adult size bicycles. 
  • All collected bicycles will be donated to Cycles for Hope, "a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization focused on providing Hope, Independence & Opportunity to those in need through the donation of recycled bicycles. Cycles 4 Hope is based in Northern California and currently serves the greater Sacramento region." 
  • If you are able to donate, please email me at ashornml@gmail.com