Active Rain Members are the Greatest, most Compassionate, Caring individuals....If this is you read on......

I have been saying this Annie, for a long while.  Everyone is so polite and considerate in this network.  I only wish that countries could do the same, and therefore eliminating the need for war!  Happy New Year!

I'm not sure how to put it together, but I can't help but cry each week while watching American Home Makeover.  I'd love to find a way to help families the way that the folks on that show do.  It's more than just building a house, they listen to what the families need and provide them a better life.  I'd love to do the same somehow.

Matt has a good idea--somehow Realtors helping less fortunate families find their home seems like a perfect fit! I'm in! Now, who out there has the "where-with-all that" knows how to jump into something like that? By the way, Annie, I've been called "too idealistic" once or twice in my life, too--don't really see idealistic as a bad thing---

Annie - I'm in!!  Life is tough for many, if I can help make someone else's burden a little lighter, it works for me.

Jackie

Well, I feel the same way, hearing how "bad" it is for others just makes me feel lucky that I have what I do and wish the same for them.  Don't have an idea about what would make a global impact, but will give it more thought.  Great idea.  I have a son-in-law going to Africa to build a store for his mom to work in rather than in the rice fields.  She has a heart condition and can't do the work any longer and is raising her grandchildren as their mom died 2 months ago.  She bore 6 chilren and has 3 left.  Wow what a woman!  These are the things that make me thank god(ess) every day for my blessings.  And, our son-in-law is a blessing to our family, opening our eyes to the reality of the world.  We do give charity more globally than we used to.  We raised the $3000 with garage sales and our own donations among our large family.  Again we are blessed to be able to help.

If each AR member sends in two dollars, we could buy a home for a needy family every year. 

Here are some other worthy ideas:  Out of each closing we could stash $ 50 in a special account - let's just call it "the altruistic account".   There are a lot of older folks, who are not very mobile, yet wanting to retain their independence are still residing in their own homes.  Why don't we use the funds in our altruistic accounts to pay for the repair and cleaning of those homes.  Pick another owner each time and get the job done.  You'll have the incentive to sell even more real estate, so you could contribute even more.

How about using the altruistic account to send an undepriledged kid to a summer camp.  How about a winter skiing trip.  Some of these kids have never even seen snow...

Annie works with me and we are also good friends and I know that she never turns away a single soul needing help, whether human or animal.  Annie goes above and beyond the call of duty, so I say, lead the way Annie!

Let's just continue our "Adopt A Family" project we've already started locally.  How does that sound?

Annie & Mirela -  Of course I don't have closings, but I can and will certainly contribute from each invoice for any of these suggestions!

Candidly, I'd be more inclined to do this than participate in a garage sale.  My only experience with large scale garage sale fundraising was not very good.  The funds actually raised did not materialize per forecasts and it was a logistical nightmare.  Please let me know how I can help.

Jackie