Giving back to the community - Atlanta Shakefire canathon or something?

[bargain]

Okay, it's fall and shelters will be needing coats.

Food banks are running low - have we ever thought about doing a canathon at a screening. (girl scouts did one recently at local grocery it was successful).

I just wondered if we ever thought of sponsoring such things.

We probably would get response from our members?

If there is interest, let me know and I'll get some information together for this. I know this is way outside of entertainment but thought I'd share with you all.

Also for your folks like me, there will be a Hands On Atlanta coming up on Oct. 2 to help others!

[moviemaven]

Sounds like a good plan! Let me know and I will help.

For anyone interested in volunteering for HANDS ON ATLANTA DAY
next Saturday, you can go to their website at: http://www.handsonatlanta.org/

I have been participating in HANDS ON ATLANTA Day for years!
It has grown tremendously and is the nation's largest city-wide day of service. The last e-mail I got from them, they still needed 2000 more volunteers to make the event successful! You can do anything from plant trees, general yard work, paint schools, build stuff, and lots more.

You need to act quickly and sign up beforehand since it is on Saturday, October 2. To learn more about the event, go too there website to register!
There is a big volunteer celebration afterwards - this year it will be at Piedmont Park, but you have to volunteer to get in. Hope to see you there!

[Willy Wonka]

I wish I could do Hands On Atlanta or even Habitat For Humanity, but I am going to walk on Saturday, October 2, 2004 to raise money for the American Diabetes Association. I joined the Luther Vandross Team. I don't think he will be there though.


If anyone wants to do that, sign-up by contacting the American Diabetes Association at www.diabetes.org or call 1-888-DIABETES (342-2383).

[ELPEMOUT]

I Come Across A Lot Of Cloths, Shoes And Things. At Times,from My Part Time Work. That I Can Donate, Or Give Too The Needy.

[SFjoey]

What about a trick-or-treat can-a-thon. Hear me out. On Halloween night, you go around to houses and ask for canned goods for donation instead of candy. Then we can arrange a way to get them in the right hands.


Talk to SFPeter ab that though...I am just a lowly slave around here.

[primo1]

Joey that is a great idea.. I wish I was in Atlanta I would help out where ever I could. It is great to see that people do think about the needy and homeless during this time of year. Great Job Shakefire.

[pandora]

Well right now we are talking to the people in charge of screenings. We are seeing if it ok for people to drop things off. We were thinking about allowing people to drop off can food, toys, etc. at screenings and we will drop it off with the right organization. We were thinking about having a different theme every screening. We will let you know more details on that once we get approval.

[Nailady]

Pandora,
I think that is a great idea! Especially the can-a-thon. These can be given to food banks...etc..

[Nicsmall]

I think it is a great idea too, who doesn't need to clean out their pantry every once in a while? I like the toy drive idea as well. I have been picking up toys all year that I find really good deals on to drop off somewhere at Christmas time, it just makes me so sad that I can never give enough to help everyone that needs it.

[taxnerd]

awesome ideas guys!

[rrranch]

I find that there is still some good peopple in this world who is willen to give to the poor..I do it every year and now I can see others do it too..Boy where have I been..Keep giving..may

God bless you all:)

[Willy Wonka]

I find it better to give food and not money. Even though some homeless persons are hesitant to take food because, from what I have been told, occasionally there are harmful products placed inside any food given to them by some asshole. I am ashamed that people would do that to a person in need.

Who is doing the Hosea project this year?

[Zoharist]

Is anyone out there who might like to help just one person? I truly need your help, prayers and contributions. I am just a human being, 85, retired only on social security in a madlly costly resort town. Help if you can, I need it!

[ELPEMOUT]

I learned that if you are going to give, that it should not matter wheather it money, food , are clothing or whatever. To me its the feeling that I get when I give. And as we all know we will get our rewards later for our giving

[Chicken of the Sea]

It's so nice to see a thread like this. One thing I've always done around the holiday season is to volunteer at soup kitchens.

Other things that have been mentioned and are good -- Toyz for Totts, Can Drives, or volunteering at an after school program for underprivledged kids...now that's fun :)

[Willy Wonka]

http://www.walkamerica.org/
Sign-up on the March of Dimes website today. :o)

[janis fountain]

My closet needs a good cleaning out. I'm in, just say when and I'll galdly bring in a few coats.

[Maxi]

I think it would be great to sponsor some donation drives at screenings. In addition to a canathon (food drive), coat/clothing drive, or toy drive, if we got in touch with the right groups, we could also consider the following:

A) Donate school supplies/book bags etc. to needy kids.

B) Donate backpacks, luggage, etc. to kids in the foster care system. (I've read that they often do not have anything to carry what little they own in as they move from place to place.)

C) Donate pet food/treats/supplies for a shelter or rescue group.

D) Donate used (but still working) cell phones for a battered women's program or group.

E) Co-sponsor a blood drive with the American Red Cross, or the other group (LifeStream?). This would have to work a little differently. Perhaps you could offer passes to an upcoming screening for Shakefire members (or anyone for that matter) who donated at a particular blood drive.

F) Collect bears like some of the radio stations and others are doing right now for the police to carry in there cars. (This would be easy to do if one of those radio stations was also sponsoring the screening you held the drive at. They could probably arrange to transport the donated items back to the station.)

Anyway just a few more ideas. There are always countless ways to contribute and make a difference and they are all equally important, especially to those that are being helped.

[Fanana]

I love doing stuff like this and I have a huge amount of clothes that I can no longer wear. I didn't want to give them to the Good Will because people would have to pay for them. This is a really good idea. Maxi gave some really good ideas too.

[farrah]

yea all that would be cool, becuase why give to the goodwill when people like yourself go and buy right back, and if someone is trully poor they can't aford to go buy it.:confused:

[Maxi]

Believe it or not, many worthwhile charities raise their funds to provide needed services by selling donated goods in their thrift stores. In reality, when done well, this can be more effective than trying to sort, store, and match up donated goods to people who might need them. After all, a family might need money for a payment on a utility bill, etc. and not clothes or appliances. Also, these same groups can also give vouchers for people who need items to shop in these same stores.

The trick is to make sure that the charity you donate to does an effective job and has as low overhead expenses as possible. For example, if a charity has overhead expenses of 20% then only 80% of any money they raise goes to the actual charity. So even if you gave them $100. Only $80 would go to the cause. The other $20 would go to overhead and operations costs. While every charity is going to have a certain amount of operations and overhead expenses, you want to compare and make sure you choose one that is as efficient as possible. So if you were comparing charities, one that spent 15% on overhead would be better than one spending 20%. Also, you may want to look at what those overhead expenses are. Are they spending a lot on their executives, or advertising or mailings? It helps to know what you are funding and you have a right to expect them to manage funds wisely and effectively.

There are a number of ways both online and off to research various charities and compare them.

Also, there are still some charities or groups where your donation of goods goes directly to the individuals you're trying to help. It just may take a little research to find one for the type of items you're looking to donate. I know there is one or more groups out there that take donations of professional or work clothes for women.

Just know that with the right charity, even if your goods are sold, you are still helping to provide help for the needy. Those funds raised will help to purchase the specific items or services those people need.

[farrah]

so we just have to find a descent charity that does this, and there we go.:D , and that will be left up to..........:confused:

[taxnerd]

A word about Good Will. I am sure that they do some good but I know first hand that at one distrbution center in Tulsa, OK most of the employees 'steal' the good stuff before it ever makes it out to the stores. These workers usually only make min. wage and don't consider that they are stealing, they think it is 'owed to them.' Also, once a month Good Will allows employees to buy goods for $.10 an item (which should reduce theft but it doesn't). So, thank again before donating to Good Will. I would donate directly to foster care, battered women, churches, homeless shelters, animals shelters, etc. places that you know will use the items and not steal them for personal gain.

[SFjohnny]

A word about Good Will. I am sure that they do some good but I know first hand that at one distrbution center in Tulsa, OK most of the employees 'steal' the good stuff before it ever makes it out to the stores. These workers usually only make min. wage and don't consider that they are stealing, they think it is 'owed to them.' Also, once a month Good Will allows employees to buy goods for $.10 an item (which should reduce theft but it doesn't). So, thank again before donating to Good Will. I would donate directly to foster care, battered women, churches, homeless shelters, animals shelters, etc. places that you know will use the items and not steal them for personal gain.

that is ridiculous. nothing is "owed" to anyone. they choose to work the job and I don't think it said that they are allowed to take whatever they want whenever they want when they got hired. why the hell would you steal stuff that costs almost nothing?

[Fanana]

Maybe it makes them feel like they're getting over on the the people higher in the Good Will chain?

[taxnerd]

It made me very mad when I learned about the stealing. Just like the looting in New Orleans, is just isn't right! But then again the whole situation in New Orleans, just isn't right!

[Willy Wonka]

People could get together to try to work with the below groups instead like Maxi first stated. Also the Georgia WildLife Federation.

But again, if do as a group, who would be designated to collect and bring the stuff over? Did people want to make an effort individually instead?

American Red Cross
1-800-HELP NOW (435-7669) English,
1-800-257-7575 Spanish;
Operation Blessing
1-800-436-6348
Americas Second Harvest
1-800-344-8070
Donate Cash to and Volunteer with:
Adventist Community Services
1-800-381-7171
Catholic Charities, USA
703 549-1390
Christian Disaster Response
941-956-5183 or 941-551-9554
Christian Reformed World Relief Committee
1-800-848-5818
Church World Service
1-800-297-1516
Convoy of Hope
417-823-8998
Lutheran Disaster Response
800-638-3522
Mennonite Disaster Service
717-859-2210
Nazarene Disaster Response
888-256-5886
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
800-872-3283
Salvation Army
1-800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769)
Southern Baptist Convention -- Disaster Relief 1-800-462-8657, ext. 6440
United Methodist Committee on Relief
1-800-554-8583

[v2005anessa]

Thanks for this listening of #'s.I am always looking for ways to contribute and give back to the community. I am involved in all projects at my job as busy as I am with my own children , job and me going back to school.

:)



People could get together to try to work with the below groups instead like Maxi first stated. Also the Georgia WildLife Federation.

But again, if do as a group, who would be designated to collect and bring the stuff over? Did people want to make an effort individually instead?

American Red Cross
1-800-HELP NOW (435-7669) English,
1-800-257-7575 Spanish;
Operation Blessing
1-800-436-6348
Americas Second Harvest
1-800-344-8070
Donate Cash to and Volunteer with:
Adventist Community Services
1-800-381-7171
Catholic Charities, USA
703 549-1390
Christian Disaster Response
941-956-5183 or 941-551-9554
Christian Reformed World Relief Committee
1-800-848-5818
Church World Service
1-800-297-1516
Convoy of Hope
417-823-8998
Lutheran Disaster Response
800-638-3522
Mennonite Disaster Service
717-859-2210
Nazarene Disaster Response
888-256-5886
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
800-872-3283
Salvation Army
1-800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769)
Southern Baptist Convention -- Disaster Relief 1-800-462-8657, ext. 6440
United Methodist Committee on Relief
1-800-554-8583