Free and Inexpensive Ways to Give & #Giveback - My List #TisTheSeason

Free and inexpensive ways to give during the holiday season.

We all have bills, and responsibilities. All of us have to watch our pennies, and budget to make ends meet, but if you're like me you still want to find a way to give back, especially around the holidays. 

I've put together a list of ideas that are either free, or cost very little to give. 

While it may cost so little, it means so much. Not only will you be helping those in need, spreading love and good will, but you'll also be an example to those around you. 

Who knows who might be inspired; your kids, siblings, co-workers, neighbours, even strangers.

Your local agencies, charities, and shelters are easily located by doing a Google search. 

EG: shelters, donations, Toronto.

For my list 

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This was originally posted to Cathy Thinking Out Loud on Nov. 21st, 2013, but it still holds true and thought it was worth reposting. 

Happy Holidays! 

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about giving back. 

Getting Carded: #HolidayCards - I'm Going Digital This Year & #Donating Money Saved. Tis The Season

To card or not to card, that is the question. 

Here are some other questions I have been asking myself over the last five years:

1. Is there still a place for Holiday Cards in this age of digital and social media sharing? 
2. Can we justify the cost and paper use and still be environmentally conscious? 
3. Is it possible to be personal via email or text message? 
4. What ways can I use the money I'd spend on postage to better reflect what the holidays are about?

For years my Christmas cards were written, stamped and ready to be mailed by December 1st. I had a long list of family and friends I hand wrote messages to before adding a picture of the kids taken specifically to be included with each card. 

I love getting Christmas cards and over the years came up with creative ways to display the cards I received. It's exciting to receive updates on friends and family, especially if pictures of the kids are included It allows me to be part of their lives even if I didn't see them often. 

Over the past five years the number of cards I send (and receive) has gradually decreased. No doubt due in part to my friends and family's increased use of technology to stay connected and share year round, making the annual Christmas picture and update less relevant.

I was thinking this year I would try something new and send personalized notes, holiday wishes and pictures of my offspring by email or text message. I will only be mailing cards to the few who do not have email or a cell phone, AND that I won't be seeing over the holidays. 

I will then take the money I save on stamps and postage and donate it or use it to give back in some way. 

In my Holiday emails and text messages I plan on sharing my reasons for opting out of mailing cards, including my decision to donate the postage money. I want others to know it was a conscious choice rather than lack of planning and a last minute attempt to send Season's Greetings. Hopefully all will understand my decision and in the spirit of the holidays be happy that those funds will go to good use. 

Do you still mail out cards, or do you find other ways to send Season's Greetings? 

As always I will find ways to reuse the cards I receive by using them to make
 gift tags, notebooks, and tree ornaments.

Season's Greetings and Happy Holidays! 

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about Holiday Cards. 

Elaine: #HealthySnack SuperHero To The Classes @BellsCornersPS #FarmToSchoolMonth

Meet Elaine Super Hero to the Classes! 

Profile of a Healthy Snack Super Hero!

I met Elaine more than a dozen years ago when our kids were in elementary school. Since then we have spent countless hours together organizing events, fundraising and volunteering at our kids schools. 

No one I know puts in more love time and effort than Elaine. 

My guess is few people realize the true extent and impact her efforts have had on hundreds if not thousands of students over the years. But if your child attended a school during a time when Elaine volunteered it's unlikely they weren't positively impacted in some way by her efforts.

One of the ways Elaine gives back these days is by starting and running the Bells Corners Public School Healthy Snack Program. 

This programs offers the students of Bells Corners P.S. a free healthy snack on school days. Each day with the help of parent and student volunteers, Elaine organizes the food orders, picks recipes, prepares and delivers by way of trolleys snacks to the approximately 175 students who choose to participate in the Healthy Snack Program. 

Some of the Benefits of a Healthy Snack Program: 

• A healthy snack is provided to those who do not have a snack or a healthy option. Kids learn better if they aren't trying to do so on an empty stomach.
• By composing and providing a mostly litter-free snack the amount of packaging and garbage produced at the school is reduced. 
• There are teaching opportunities, such as showing students how to root and grow celery with the end of the stalks leftover from healthy snack.
• Elaine is always on the look out for new recipes and snack options, and she tries to share those recipes with the students and parents. This gives parents new healthy snack ideas they know their kids like. 

On October 22nd, I was invited to attend a Farm to School Month Celebration hosted by Elaine, Bells Corners Public School, Growing Up Organic and the Ottawa Network For Education. 

The goal is to "celebrate ways that schools, farmers and communities are working to bring more healthy, local and sustainable foods to schools and classrooms" 

At this event Grade 2 and 3 students had the chance to make a mural using paint and stamps made from vegetables, and participate in a Q & A Session with local farmers Roshan and Tim Aubin from Aubin Farm. (Aubin Farm delivers produce weekly to BCPS for the Healthy Snack Program)

Local Farmers from Aubin Farm answer student questions
about how the vegetables are grown and how they get from the farm
 to their Healthy Snack Program.

The event was a huge success, and I don't think the kids will ever eat a vegetable again without thinking about how it gets from the farm to the Healthy Snack Trolley. 

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about Healthy Snacks and Farm to School Month.

Note: I was not compensated for this post. The purpose of this post is merely to share with my readers. All opinions are my own. 

When The Moon Hits Your Eye Like A Heart Shaped Pizza Pie That's @bostonpizza and @BostonPizzaFdn Amore!

On February 14th, one dollar from every heart-shaped pizza goes to the The Boston Pizza Foundation, but the heart shape pizza goes to you! What's not to love! 

You can get more details on the Boston Pizza Facebook Page or the Boston Pizza Website. 

Yep, just Cathy thinking out loud about heart shaped pizza, and giving back!

Note: I have not been compensated for this post in anyway, and all opinions are my own.