A/R Stagers are some of the most creative, caring, and community-minded people that you'll ever meet. Many have helped our communities in a variety of ways (sometimes as part of a group effort, and sometimes on our own). There are countless worthwhile charities across North America that need our help, especially this time of year. So let's see what we can do to make a difference!
Active Rain is encouraging all of us to reach out and serve those less fortunate, who may need a little help. We'd like to ask all A/R members (not restricted to home stagers) to offer your time, services, or materials to any local charity or community group, and then blog about what you did and how it helped others during this Holiday Season.
A/R will award 1,000 Bonus Points to anyone writing a post about how they "Staged it Forward." So you WIN in several ways: Your help within your community directly helps others, your blogging about it encourages others on A/R to join in & help their communities, and you'll see a boost of 1,000 Bonus Points here on A/R!
Here are just a few ideas on volunteering your time & talent this Holiday Season (between now & Dec. 31st) ~ please feel free to add your own good ideas in your comments, to encourage everyone else:
- Volunteer at a local 'Meals on Wheels' or similar program
- Help a local shelter by volunteering to clean, paint, organize, or enhance it -- bring a friend or family member with you and you'll both feel good
- Offer to decorate rooms in a community-oriented venue for the holidays
- Enhance common areas at a hospice facility, for the residents as well as their visitors
- Offer to spruce up classrooms in local schools; ask if they need extra paper, pens, crayons, art supplies, etc. or if they need some rooms painted (if so, ask your local paint or hardware store if they'd donate some paint)
- Donate your gently-used items of furniture, clothing, or household goods that you might have sold at a garage sale .... or hold that garage sale, and donate all the proceeds to a local charity -- get your neighbors to join in
- Visit a local retirement home or convalescent facility and ask if you can visit residents who don't have family members nearby -- then bring them a few small gifts or offer to help send holiday cards for them
- Homeless shelters would appreciate donations of warm blankets, food, & winter coats
- Contact any of your local community charities and ask them where their need is greatest -- everyone needs help this time of year
- Think of other creative ways you can donate your time, services, or materials .. the options are endless!
~ Remember that any act of kindness is repaid back to the giver a thousand fold ~
Guidelines:
* Title your post "Holiday Season Stage It Forward" and post it in these groups: Stage It Forward and ActiveRain Contests
* 1,000 Points will be awarded by A/R for posts submitted up to December 31, 2010
* Include a story about your volunteer effort (include photos if you like) to encourage other A/R members to join in
* Look for your Bonus Points to be awarded in January 2011
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