Regifting good

Kindness is the one gift that should always be regifted. It’s a gift no one would ever be offended to receive knowing it had first belonged to someone else. And it’s a gift that once made, the giver would undoubtedly only be pleased if you passed it along to someone else.

I gave a talk on Friday — 90 or so people in the audience — and spoke at one point about the extraordinary generosity of my Reality Chick, Reality Online, and Sense and the City readers who, over the years, have contributed thousands and thousands of dollars during my annual fundraising drives for All Faiths Food Bank. I told the audience that my fee for the day’s talk was going straight to All Faiths, since every year I donate whatever I earn during the month of November from speaking and newspaper writing fees to All Faiths. (If you’d like to participate in this year’s drive or just learn more, click here.) I spoke about kindness and caring for everyone in our community — about the incredible need many are facing and I related times in my life, too, when I’d been in need and strangers had stepped up to help me.

After my talk, as I was preparing to leave, a woman approached me and pressed a check into my hands. “Your talk today moved me,” she said; and she asked me to make sure to send along her check, which she had just written, with mine when I send it in to All Faiths.

Such an unexpected kindness. Such an appreciated gesture. And her contribution will make a tangible difference to several someones in the upcoming weeks in our community. That’s the perfect regifting scenario: the group was kind enough to hire and pay me to speak; I was kind enough to earmark the fee for All Faiths; a stranger in the audience was kind enough to amplify those kindnesses with her own donation. Who know where this one small strand of kindness — begun when this group was kind enough to invite a column-less columnist to speak — will end?

All Faiths Food Bank 2012

As I do every year, I’m donating all income I receive for talks I give and any columns of mine that are published during the month of November straight to All Faiths Food Bank.

If you’d like to participate in the MC “Reality” All Faiths Food Bank fundraising drive this year — there are two easy ways to do so:

Online: Visit www.allfaithsfoodbank.org (just write “MC’s Reality drive” in the special instructions box).

Mail: Send a check, with the same notation — MC’s reality drive”, to All Faiths Food Bank, 8171 Blaikie Court, Sarasota, Florida 34240-8321.

If you’d like to learn more about past years’ drives and read stories about giving and receiving … just click here.

All Faiths Food Bank MC Readers Drive Update — $2,565 Raised!

Thanks to everyone who took the time to donate to the MC/Ticket All Faiths Food fundraising drive in November. At the end of the Thanksgiving drive, All Faiths had received $2,565 from “Sense and the City” readers. That’s the equivalent of 4,071 meals provided to hungry men, women and children in our community. I can’t thank you enough for participating.

Total raised over the past several years by readers of this blog, my former “Reality Chick” column, and my current Sense and the City column? — $13,879! That’s something over 22,000 — TWENTY-TWO THOUSAND! — meals for people in need.

Bravo, brava and merci mille fois!!!

All Faiths Fundraising Update … 148 Thanksgiving dinners so far!

All Faiths Food Bank MC Coolidge Sense and the City fundraising drive update:

All Faiths told me on Thursday that we’ve already raised $1,780 through donations from readers! That’s 148 Thanksgiving dinners with all the trimmins’ — for families of four or so …Thank you so much! The drive continues through Thanksgiving. Click on this link below if you’d like to know how to participate.

http://www.mccoolidge.com/2011/11/03/mc-reality-ticket-readers-annual-all-faiths-food-drive/

MC Reality & Ticket Readers … Annual All Faiths Food Drive!

My Sense and the City column in today’s TICKET section of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune kicks off my annual November fundraising drive to help feed the hungry in our community through the All Faiths Food Bank. You can read the column online by clicking on this text: The Tradition of Giving Thanks By Giving to Others

Once again, I’m donating my entire earnings during November from my freelance newspaper gig — which this year will be more than prior years I’m happy to say!

If you’d like to join in with MC’s drive for All Faiths Food Bank, there are two easy ways to do so:

Online: Visit www.allfaithsfoodbank.org (just write “MC’s TICKET column drive” in the special instructions box).

Mail: Send a check, with the same notation — MC’s TICKET column drive”, to All Faiths Food Bank, 8171 Blaikie Court, Sarasota, Florida 34240-8321.

I’ll be reporting results in an upcoming TICKET column and on this blog as well.

If you’re able to participate and donate money — that’s wonderful, but, as I point out in my column, there are lots of ways to “give thanks” without specifically giving cash … one of the best ways is just by being kinder. The next time someone pulls a bone-headed move in traffic, the next time you’re waiting in a long line, the next time the older person in front of you is moving slower than a tortoise, the next time some kid is screaming his head off … just take a deep breath and be patient! If you’re in a car, waiting in line to buy something, in a hurry to get somewhere and able to hear … hey, you’ve got a lot to be thankful for!

Reality Readers Help Provide 1,135 Meals for the Hungry!

Thank you all so much — to everyone who contributed to this year’s MC “Reality Readers” fundraising drive to help All Faiths Food Bank continue to fight hunger in our community and provide meals for people in need.

During November, Reality Readers donated $715 for this year’s drive — which means they provided the equivalent of 1,135 meals for hungry men, women, and children in our community.

All Faiths sent a note of thanks to me today for organizing the drive, but it’s you all who made the results happen — so the thanks go to you!

I know everyone is inundated with requests to help out this or that charitable or community cause — and I really appreciate the contributions you were able to make to my little drive, which is small in comparison to the big charities and big efforts that go on all over our community — small, but still very important — because every bit helps!

And because I really do believe that each and every act of kindness, no matter how small or big, goes out into the world and makes way for more acts of kindness.

Great way to start December.

Turkey Day tidbits add up

I hope everyone’s out (or in) enjoying the long holiday weekend! I feel very blessed to have a roof over my head (it’s raining out) and just finished eating a simple snack of a yummy delicious apple and a piece of wheat bread, and gave my cats an afternoon tidbit of turkey. I know I’m one of the lucky ones.

Right now in our community, there are so many who have no one to turn to in tough times. They don’t have a parent they can call and say, “Can I come home for dinner?” or a friend they can ask for $20 to tide them over ‘til payday. And many of those struggling the hardest have children or aging parents who are dependent upon them for the simplest, but most soul-nourishing, necessity of having enough food on the table. (more…)

What if … we take a moment to help fight hunger in our community?

I ran my “What If” blog on January 22nd of this year … but it seems appropriate for this current week too; so I’ve excerpted it below. Thank you to all who donated so far to the All Faiths Food Bank “Reality Readers” fundraising drive! If you’re interested in donating money through the MC Reality Readers fundraising campaign to help feed the hungry this holiday season — click here for details.
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What if …right this moment … or at least the minute you get done reading this blog … (more…)

Heal Hunger for the Holidays — update

Let’s Heal Hunger for the Holidays!

Since 2006, readers of my “reality” columns, op/ed essays in papers, and of my blog, have been kindly and generously donating to the annual “MC Reality Readers” fundraising drive to benefit All Faiths Food Bank, raising $10,600 so far to help feed the hungry men, women, and children of our community who struggle to put food on the table and make ends meet.

This year, more than ever, is the year of greatest need … and of great opportunity for those of us who are able to dig deep and help out those who need a hand.

It’s a nice circle of grace to know that because my hometown newspaper has recently helped me by hiring me as a weekly freelance contributor … I, in turn, can do something more significant than in years past to help others. Every year, I’ve always contributed any writing fees I received from print publications during the month of November — wasn’t always a lot, but this year, I’m grateful to be able to donate more than ever before because of my new Sarasota Herald-Tribune/Ticket column.

Times are extraordinarily tight for so many of us – for our friends, family, neighbors, people we see on the streets or at bus stations, or in line at the supermarket or bank – people we might not know personally, but who are part of who we are as a community… that’s why I’m writing again about the All Faiths “Reality Reader” drive.

All Faiths has already begun receiving donations from Reality Readers — if you’d like to help heal hunger for the holidays – here’s how you can get involved:

A donation of any amount, even $5, will help; $12 will provide enough food to supply a holiday meal to a family of five; $100 will provide 159 meals; and $500 will supply 794 meals. On your donation, if you’d like to participate specifically in my annual drive, simply write “MC Reality Reader” on your check or in the “Special Instructions” box online.

All Faiths Food Bank — make a donation online at All Faiths
Or send a check snail mail to: 8171 Blaikie Court
Sarasota, Florida 34240-8321
941-379-6333
Just be sure to put the words “MC Reality Reader” on your check or enter it in the “special instructions” box online, if you want to specifically participate in this “reality” drive (All Faiths will be giving me a final tally on “reality” donations in early December, and this helps them track the donations.)

Thanks for taking the time to read this blog – no need to respond unless you want to; just know that I appreciate your time in reading, and of course, if you do choose/are able to make a donation in any amount – know that your generosity is truly appreciated.

Healing hunger for the holidays — MC Reality Readers annual fundraising for All Faiths Food Bank

Since 2006, readers of my “reality” columns, op/ed essays in papers, and of this blog, have been kindly and generously donating to my annual fundraising drive to benefit All Faiths Food Bank.

Every year, I add to the drive myself, by personally donating any money I receive from print publications during the month of November — most years, it hasn’t been that much, but this year, I’ll be able to donate all my earnings from my new Sarasota Herald Tribune column called “After Hours” which appears in the TICKET section of the paper. I’m proud and happy to know that because my hometown local newspaper has helped me by hiring me as a weekly freelance contributor … I, in turn, can turn around and help others. (more…)