I have been touched directly in my heart by the “Bag It Forward” Project that I am working on with Elmers.  I am collecting school supplies and backpacks to pass out to at least 50 kids (my goal) around the Pittsburgh area the 2nd week in Aug.

I have a wonderful crew lined up to help me and I already started getting donations in from people to help out.

I bought some 25 cent boxes of crayola crayons today too to put in younger kids backpacks.

I am so excited. And heart touched by the out pouring of love from people willing to help.

This being said, I was driving today and thinking about the whole project. And, I was thinking about stories I have seen on television or read on blogs or in newspapers that have impacted me. After all, I am bagging forward 50 backpacks but I am praying it doesn’t stop with me. I want this project to touch others and to spread like wildfire all over the USA. If everyone who was able could donate even 1 backpack of school supplies to 1 child, it would make a world of difference. So I was thinking to myself, and  I thought, Self ; (lol) what would Anderson Cooper do to get the point across. What would he do to show people that a small help can make a huge difference ?

Well, I thought about Haiti and how he went out into the field, as reporters do, He went directly to the people,  and he showed you the children and the people, and told the peoples life stories.

THAT MAKES AN IMPACT.

So, I was going to go through some agencies to make this handing out of backpacks work, but after deep thoughts today, I have decided to choose 4 Housing Projects in and around Pittsburgh to go directly to, I know children will be playing outside, and hand out some backpacks to them. Housing Projects are where people in need live. It is Public housing for people in need, so these are the families who are struggling for various reasons and need help.

I want to ask some people for their stories, whether on camera or not, I want (with parent permission) to show you the smiles on the kids as they get their back packs. I want to show them that people DO care and are here to help.

I think it will be a more random act of kindness by doing it this way as well.

I want to tell the stories about mom or dad who lost their income/job. I want to tell the stories of single moms who need help, and I want to show people that it isn’t that these people don’t want to buy school supplies for their kids, they just CAN’T.

I also have a friend, who is a police officer in one of the towns where there are 2 sets of housing projects I will be travelling to, and I am going to ask him if he can maybe go with me. Not for my protection, heck, I used to hang out in projects when I was a teen, but to let parents and kids know we are legit/safe and not there to scare the kids, or trying to lure them with our backpacks, lol  (people can misconceive things at time, esp. when they get something free that maybe too good to be true).

So, I love that I am going to be going directly to these children and families and bringing the stories to you.  I am very excited. I love giving things away, which is one favorite thing about my blog (holding giveaways) too. I love making a difference and I love helping people and “Paying It Forward” – and in this case, “Bagging It Forward”.

Keep watching my blog to see these stories come to life. I get goosebumps just thinking about it.

The Plus Size Mommy

*Disclosure – I am being  compensated for my participation in this campaign . Views expressed here are my own. Some of my compensation WILL be given back to make a difference in 50 children’s lives.

This is their home, and you can read more and see more by visiting : http://www.uvfr.org/fullstory.php?106324

Imagine, being a mother with a family and your home catches fire and burns down, and you lose everything! Physically, You are all okay, but mentally, your hurting inside. Where will you get clothing, food, toys, appliances, furniture, and all of the things you had before the fire.

A local family (local to me) in East McKeesport, PA last week suffered such a loss. The 2 children, who are the same ages as my sons arrived home from school to see the fire men putting their house fire out. How devastating this must have been.

When I was a baby, My family suffered such a loss. My sister was 7, and she remembers it well. Thank God none of us were home either. I was at day care, my sister was at school, and my parents were both at work.  It is in my mom and sisters minds still to this day 30+ years later.

I am trying to raise as much money as possible to help this family. By using my blog and any other outlets I can use.

Every Single Dollar donated will go to this family. We are holding a spaghetti dinner for them to raise some more money as well on May 7th. This is where I will present to them all of the money I can raise as well.

For those of you who know me, You know I have raised money via my blog before for a dear friend and her family when the loss of Baby Annie happened. I have also tried to help raise money for  Baby Maddie as well. I understand how many might be hesitant due to not knowing me. That is understandable. But if you do trust me that I will get this money to the family, and you have even a dollar to spare. Anything/any amount helps. If you cannot afford to donate or if you do not trust where the money will go to, than PRAYERS are Free and so I ask that you Pray for this family.

And this family will be ever so thankful!

Thank you in advance.

Beth AKA The Plus Size Mommy

UPDATE : We are also looking for any clothing/shoe donations :

Daughter (5th grade) pants – 16 (kids); shirts – adult large; shoe – 7 1/2
Son (7th grade) pants 38; shirt – XL; shoe 9 1/2 mens
Father – pants 40; shirt XXL; shoe 9 wide
Mother – pants womens 12; shirt large; shoe 9

If you are a clothing company or shoe company, PLEASE contact me at plussizemommy@gmail.com
Or if you have gently used clothing that can help, please email me at plussizemommy@gmail.com
I will send you my address of where the clothing/shoes can be shipped to. THANKS

10 Tips for Donating to Charity without Spending a Dime

Most people think that the only way to contribute to your community is by giving money to a charity but most people are not aware that your contribution can go beyond a direct donation. Philanthropy Realtors is one of many organizations that will donate money in your name. Listed below are some friendly tips that help consumers give to charity.

• Give an old cell phone back
  Americans replace their cell phone once every 2 years. By giving your phone back to Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon or AT&T you are giving to a charity (all vendors listed donate proceeds of used phones). Sprint states that since 2001 the company has donated $4 million to charity through the sale of used phones.

• Lend your knowledge to a charity.

Sometimes your expertise can make a huge difference. If you are a plumber who can fix a pipe or you are a student who can make phone calls on the weekends.

• Donate junk from the garage for a fundraising drive.

Don’t feel bad about throwing away that old bicycle or television; raffle it off at a fundraiser.

• Join your neighborhood council.
  Most major cities are too large to know the needs of the local community. By volunteering your time or opinions you can help issues like traffic, land usage, building regulations, and more.

• Take a pet home for a week

Many no kill shelters have so many animals that they need volunteers to take a cat or dog home for as little as a couple of days to free up room and resources.

• Donate your organs and plasma

Most people don’t realize the importance of telling DMV that you would like to be an organ donor in case of an emergency. Or if you don’t feel squeamish you can always give blood and make money!

• Donate books and other media to your local library Your local library is a government agency and is most likely in need. Take that old collection of paperback books and bring it to the library. The library has been known to take equipment, real estate, stocks, artifacts, works of art and collections.

• Allowing a charity to use your name or company name
  Most would be surprised how far you can go by lending your name. If you own a small business or just want to be put on a list of people that support a 501C3

• Go for a walk.

Many charities will donate money on your behave by participating
in walkathons, marathons, or other events

• Have your realtor donate his fees to charity

Philanthropy Realtors recruits from all agencies both commercial and residential letting the seller donate to his or her favorite charity by using part of the realtor’s commission as a donation. Some of the charities working with Philanthropy include, Homes for Our Troops, Starlight Children’s Foundation, Getavision, LAPD,American Cinematheque, Learning Rights, and many more. The licensed realtors who are joining Philanthropy have been literally nation wide. Philanthropy Realtors works with all agencies; ask your realtor.

Licensed realtor Miguel Gonzalez started Philanthropy Realtors, in association with Keller Williams Los Feliz, after seeing his father die from cancer and battling the deadly disease himself. He uses a simple formula taught by his father of giving back to the community by giving a piece of the real estate profits to select charities. Miguel hopes other real estate companies will follow his example. Philanthropy Realtors is located in Los Angeles California. http://philanthropyrealtors.com/

Shared by: The Plus Size Mommy