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Paying it forward... with what will fit in a shoe box.

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 GREC# 169695

Operation Christmas Child is a charity that my church participates in annually.  Tomorrow is "turn in" day for this year.  So today I didn't work.  I shopped.  I went and purchased my "shoe boxes" because I think a rubbermade box is nicer and might be useful so I buy one of those. 

I always do two boxes, one for a little boy and one for a little girl.  You get to choose age ranges and I always choose the 5 to 7, because that's the age range of my Sunday School chidren so I feel more like I'll know what they like.  Each box is cram packed with a book, a coloring book, crayons, pencils, a few toys, gum, some hard candy and new tooth brush, toothpaste, soap, a bath cloth (snoopy) and a couple of small toys.  This year I even included some nerf balls. 

I always remember the one Christmas when my own daughter at age 4 wouldn't have had much of a Christmas without the help of others.  The Sunday before Thanksgiving a tornado hit my house.  It was over a week before we had power restored and there was SO much work to do that frankly Christmas just really snuck up on me.  And I took some time off from work which at the time was unpaid leave.  I also quit my second job because there was so much to do.  The Eatonton service league contacted me because they knew my home had been damaged and asked if they could help.

That Christmas morning Abigail didn't know the difference from any other Christmas morning she's ever experienced.  So every year to think that I help a family in need to give a child a better Christmas has always been very important to me.

Next week is National Collection week.  If you'd like to help, check out their website. If you don't want to do the shopping or don't have a drop off site near you you can always just make a donation.  The site explains where they work, what they do and how the funds are used. 

Over 8 Million children got shoeboxes last year.  Sending a box change change a life.

Posted by

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Tammy@Lake-Sinclair.com

(Click on Lane Realty Logo for web site)

Tammy Lankford, Broker/Owner

 

Broker License # 169695  Lane Realty License # H-11420

Real Estate Instructor License # 355089

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Comments (19)

Sharon Lancaster
Sage Executive Group Real Estate - Kelowna, BC
SRES, Realty Executives Okanagan

Our Realty executive Office keeps a couple 'shoe boxes' on the shelf year round - to allow for those hotel samples and unused items throughout the year... it is a great way to build a box!

Nov 13, 2010 03:21 PM
Cindy Marchant
Keller Williams Indy NE 317-290-7775 www.marchantteam.com - Carmel, IN
"Cindy in Indy" , Realtor, Fishers Real Estate

Interesting story...our local pack the shoebox day was today about 30 miles south of where I live...and I was back and forth on going.  Then I get a call from an old client who wants to see one house five minutes away from the packing station location....I felt like God was screaming at me to go.  So I went...but when I got there, they were already done.  It was a 9-2 deal and I got there around noon.  Not sure what that all means...but I did pick up all the information and will be doing my packing of shoeboxes at home!  lol

Cindy in Indy

Nov 13, 2010 03:22 PM
Sonja Patterson
Keller Williams - BV - College Station, TX
Texas Monthly 5-Star Realtor Recipient for the Hou

Tammy, I'm sure you will always be THANKFUL for your home after the horrific tornado experience.  I'm glad you were safe!!  Operation Christmas Child is such a neat program.....I am certain your boy and girl recepients will have a WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS as a result of your taking the time to care.  :) 

Nov 13, 2010 03:23 PM
Kate Bourland
Marketing with Kate - Redding, CA
Onlilne Marketing Mobile Marketing

Tammy, what a great story.  It is so wonderful to read about how we are all touching the lives of others.

Nov 13, 2010 03:29 PM
Lindsey Hasford
Edina Realty - Elk River, MN
Bringing you home...

Shoeboxes are a great way to help others. About twelve years ago I was able to help hand some of them out in Mexico... kind of cool.

Nov 13, 2010 03:33 PM
Jon Quist
REALTY EXECUTIVES ARIZONA TERRITORY - Tucson, AZ
Tucson's BUYERS ONLY Realtor since 1996

This looks like a great way to "pay it forward". Thanks for thepost.

Nov 13, 2010 04:20 PM
Joan Valverde
HomeSmart - Colorado Springs, CO
GRI,CDPE,CNE,MRP,SRES Colo Sprgs, Blk Forest, Monu
Tammy, this is an awesome ministry opportunity to bless others at Chrstmas. We never know what others are going through!
Nov 13, 2010 04:25 PM
Roger D. Mucci
Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH
Lets shake things up at your home today!

Excellent "pay it forward" Tammy, especially since you've been there and know how meaningful your gesture can be to others...........well done.

Nov 13, 2010 04:49 PM
Sharon Lee
Sharon Lee's Virtual Assistance - Jonesborough, TN
Retired and loving life

tammy-I do this myself and it is such a wonderful feeling to give back. I am not surprised you do that as well.

Nov 13, 2010 08:05 PM
Dale Baker
Baker Energy Audits and Commercial Properties Inspections - Claremont, NH
New Hampshire Relocation Real Estate Information

Howdy and morning to you Tammy

Tammy,
taking part in these kind of programs sure is a mighty fine way of paying it back to your community. My lady and I are helping a mom and her son this year.

I'm sure glad you and your family were okay after that tornado come a visiting. I sure do know about tornadoes, being that my home State is Missouri.

Have a good one
Dale in New Hampshire

Nov 13, 2010 10:49 PM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

That website offers all sorts of opportunities to donate apart from giving shoeboxes at Christmas, I see. Why, you can also donate water filters for cleaning impurities out of contaminated water or teach a child to read. Pretty cool, Tammy. You're a good person.

Nov 14, 2010 08:20 AM
Mary Douglas
United Country Ponderosa Realty, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado - Red Feather Lakes, CO
REALTOR, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado

Loved the video Tammy- seeing those images is heartwarming - "Changing the world one heart at a time"! is a great slogan, thanks for passing along the information for their website, too.

Nov 14, 2010 10:06 AM
Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED
RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

Great paying it forward!  Shoe boxes come in a lot of sizes too :-)  Like a shoe box for boots!  Kids are so sweet, that if the simplest of items brings so joy.  Thanks for the post.  And a tornado hit your house!!  WOW.  I've lived through earthquakes, but never been in tornado country.  It's very humbling to think about what we have, compared to those.  I watched the video and I'm inspired.  Thank you Tammy.  I'm going to pack a shoe box, there's a collection center not to far from my house!!

Nov 14, 2010 10:48 AM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

Sharon- what a great idea.  There's a couple of charities that I contribute to locally that I should do a public box in my office.

Cindy- I hope you get them done and good luck with that client.

Sonja- I will always be very thankful for my home and kinda scared of storms.

Kate- little things mean so much.

Lindsey- now that sounds really cool.

Jon- sure thing.

Joan- My church donates to them serveral times during the year, but this is what they ask for at this time of year. 

Roger- I lost of stuff in that storm, including some gifts intended to be for that year's Christmas so it does give me a better appreciation of going without. 

Sharon- I'm not surprised you do this either.

Dale- what a great gesture to help a single mom at Christmas.  I appreciate it.

Elizabeth- We paid for a well in a community one year too.  That felt great to be a part of.

Mary-  Happy to share the website. 

Carla- I'm super happy you're doing that.  And thanks for the challenge and encouragement to others in your reblog.

 

Nov 14, 2010 02:01 PM
Russell Lewis
Realty Austin, Austin Texas Real Estate - Austin, TX
Broker,CLHMS,GRI

Tammy, excellent post and what a great way to pay it forward. It is always good to see those reaching out to help others, especially during the holidays

Nov 15, 2010 01:14 AM
Ron Marshall
Marshall Enterprises - Saint Michael, MN
Birdhouse Builder Extraordinaire

Tammy, thanks for sharing your story and making it easy for me to suggest a blog post this morning!  What great inspiration for sharing! 

Nov 15, 2010 01:21 AM
1~Judi Barrett
Integrity Real Estate Services 116 SE AVE N, Idabel, OK 74745 - Idabel, OK
BS Ed, Integrity Real Estate Services -IDABEL OK

What a great way to pay it forward. 

Locally we do angels..

I've read about the shoe box program but have not participated.. will check out your link.

Thanks for the post.

Nov 16, 2010 01:34 PM
Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED
RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

Hi Tammy -- last night I dropped off my boxes!  Am I too sensative, they asked me "Just two?"

I mean . . . two is better than zero, right?!?  Took at little wind out of my giving sail.  I'm sure I'm just being sensative.

Nov 19, 2010 09:17 AM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

I can't say that I wouldn't have snapped back something smart... this week without doubt I would have.  I suppose though Carla you just have to chalk it up to the individual person at your drop off location.  I hope that is all it is anyway.  I've been with the youth of my church to the closest drop off center to us (a couple of hours, north of Atlanta, away) where my church youth spent the day helping pack them in bigger boxes to be shipped overseas.  The workers were kind, gracious and very grateful for our help and donation.  I can't imagine them not being just as kind to an individual dropping off two boxes.  Bums me out that they asked you that.

Nov 19, 2010 10:43 AM