25 Days of Giving

The last few months of awareness have been wonderful, haven't they? We've supported some wonderful causes, raised money for great charities and promoted awareness for some diseases that don't always get enough attention. I'll always be grateful for your support in this.

Instead of choosing a cause for December to feature, I thought maybe all our lives (and the people in them) could use some good deeds. This is a season of giving, and the warmth we feel when doing good for others is unmatched by any other feeling. So I decided to introduce:

25 Days of Giving
at Cathy's Creations!

Do something good for someone else every day, starting Wednesday, December 1st.

That's it! There are nearly 2,000 Frikes, even if only half of those participate half of the time, we'll still have done 12,500 good deeds! Imagine 12,500 lives lifted, burdens lightened, smiles created. You have no idea what effect your kindness may have had on someone who really needed lifting. I can't wait to hear all about your experiences. Feel free to comment here or write on the Cathy's Creations fan page.

Here are some suggestions of things you could do. Feel free to come up with your own, though!

Pay for someone's coffee/tea.

Pay for someones toll.

Make a food donation at the supermarket.

Bake a treat and bring it over to an elderly person/nursing home.

Call someone you have been putting off calling.

Bring a well behaved dog to a nursing home for a visit.

Hold the door for the person behind you.

Make soup for a sick friend.

Take a friend’s kid for the day. The parent could probably use the break.

Volunteer for a charity. Pick a cause that's near and dear to your heart and donate your time to them.

If you head out of town, drop off your monthly public transit pass at a youth or job center. They'll pass on the pass to someone who is in need of it to job hunt or attend school.

Take your neighbors trash to the curb while you're taking yours. Imagine their surprise when they see that the chore is already done.

Pay for the person behind you at the drive thru. It will make someone's day!

Donate blood. One single donation can help up to 4 people – that should be inspiring enough.

Donate your used clothes and housewares to charity. By doing so, you can help people meet basic human needs. Your old sweaters will keep someone warm during the winter and your old housewares can help someone furnish their new apartment.

Find a holiday angel program in your community. You can donate basic things like toothpaste, towels, sheets and PJ's for a family in need to open on Christmas morning.

Take a CPR class. You never know when you might be in a position to put those life-saving skills into practice.

Offer to babysit a friend’s kids one night so she and her partner can enjoy a romantic evening out. You friend will certainly be grateful for the night off.

Write a letter or e-mail to a good friend or family member to let them know how much you value them.

They say that smiling is contagious. Pick a day to smile at everyone you pass on the street.

Pass on your books after you've read them for someone else to enjoy. Take them to a local shelter or give them to friends.

Being angry at someone requires a lot of energy from both people involved, so go ahead and let go of an old grudge. Forgiving someone who hurt you will open the door for a friendship to be rekindled.

When you come across a two for one deal (which are popular at book and movie stores), donate your free product to a local shelter or youth group.

Next time you're at your favorite restaurant, leave your server a very generous tip.

Next time you do your grocery shopping, pick up a large bag of cat or dog food to donate to a local animal shelter.

Host a movie night for 10 of your closet friends. Charge $10 admission, provide the popcorn, candy and drinks, and donate the $100 to a charity you all decide on. It's a perfect way to feel good about having fun.

Shovel a neighbor's driveway.

Make an extra batch of soup or chili that you can freeze and give it to someone you know who is pressed for time to cook healthy food during the holidays.

Offer to wrap presents for a friend who has a hectic work schedule.

Donate mittens, hats and scarves to the Warmth tree at your children's school. If they don't have one, start one.

Don't just give your child's teacher a Christmas gift, give a gift to the whole class too -- a book, a puzzle or other indoor game for indoor recess time.

Don't forget to get a little something for the little people you forget: School Secretary, School Librarian, Bus Driver, School Custodians, Principal/Vice-Principal -- they make your children's school life successful too!

Send in boxes of tissues to your child's classroom BEFORE your teacher is forced to ask for some. Trust me, they'll need them.

Make your husband's lunch for him, or move the car for him, or give him a massage after a hard day.

Stop cleaning and sit and watch a movie with your kids instead.

Take a friend for a pedicure.

Invite your In-Laws over for tea and cookies.

Volunteer at a local soup kitchen.

Call a women’s shelter and see what items they need, then donate them.


Now, get ready! If you're already a Frike (a friend/like) on facebook, I'll start reminding (read: bugging) you to do your good deed on Wednesday, December 1st! If you're not, spread the word! Grab our button and post it on your blog! Invite your friends to become frikes! Imagine how much good we can do.




<center><a href="http://creationscathys.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i1104.photobucket.com/albums/h327/cathyscreations/25daysbutton.jpg" /></a></center>

(To grab our button, copy the text in the box. Then go to your blog's layout section, click on "Add a Gadget," choose "HTML/Javascript" and paste the text into the box! Our button will then appear on your blog, and when they click on it, all your friends will be directed here!)