2009: A Year of Giving - Without Spending

Show Your Helping Hand

2009-06-30T14:20:00.001-07:00

Hamburger Helper has teamed up with Beyonce and Feeding America to deliver more than 3.5 million meals to local feed banks. Here's how you can help:

Enter codes from inside specially marked boxes of Hamburger Helper, which will donate 18 cents to Feeding America - enough to deliver one meal to a local food bank. Deadline: Dec. 31, 2010.

Text "show" to 90999 to donate $5. You may receive one future text message from Feeding America, which will be sent no later than Dec. 31, 2010.

Bring non-perishable food items to Beyoncé's concerts.

Use your Coke rewards program

2009-06-02T17:40:00.000-07:00

1. Sign up at www.mycokerewards.com
2. Enter your bottle codes from any participating Coca-Cola product
3. Use your points for one of the following:
a. Enter a sweepstakes (3 points) to donate $1,000 to the organization of your choice.
b. Donate points (15, 70 or 140) to Best Buy's at15, in which teens get to decide where the donated money goes. Interesting.

Blog changes

2009-05-31T18:23:00.000-07:00

Beginning June 1, the format of this blog will change. Mostly because I'm fresh out of ideas, and secondly, because I know my 12 readers will understand. I won't be posting daily, but I will be doing more research in order to produce better content that both expounds on ideas we've already covered and ones that offer new ways to give without spending.

Day 150: Learn what NOT to give

2009-05-30T18:33:00.000-07:00

Broken appliances or electronics.
Stained or torn clothing.
Broken furniture.
Old computers.

Rule of thumb: Call and ask your charity what is unacceptable. A few of the items listed above can be recycled, which is great. But don't burden the organization you're trying to help with things that can be recycled or should just be thrown away.

Day 149: Educate yourself

2009-05-30T18:25:00.000-07:00

Find a topic close to your heart and learn as much as you can about it and then educate others. Become a local expert, one journalists turn to for information on the topic. Get as involved as you can and inform as many others as you can.

Day 148: One click at a time

2009-05-28T20:49:00.000-07:00

One click at a time is a Web site devoted to organizing all the click-to-give sites out there in the webosphere and putting them in one place for your convenience. All funds are sponsor driven.

Day 147: Hurricane preparedness

2009-05-27T10:04:00.000-07:00

Make sure your elderly neighbors and relatives are prepared for hurricane season.

Coordinate an evacuation plan.
Check for supplies: batteries in flashlights, bottled water and canned foods are necessities.
Help them secure their homes.

Day 146: Enter sweepstakes

2009-05-26T21:33:00.000-07:00

Check out www.sweetiessweeps.com for tips and tricks to win free prizes. You can donate all or a portion of your winnings.

Day 145: Donate magazines

2009-05-25T19:23:00.000-07:00

Give your magazines to schools or Sunday schools so they can be used in libraries, classrooms and craft areas. Classwork assignments for primary-grade children, for instance, often consist of finding pictures of words that start with certain letters.

You also might consider bringing them to your nearest senior or community center.

Day 144: Donate stock

2009-05-24T11:50:00.000-07:00

A gift of stock or other securities can make a world of difference in your personal charitable and estate planning. Since many securities have appreciated in value since their purchase, they make an attractive gift under current tax laws. Consult your financial adviser for details.

Day 143: Care for your elders

2009-05-24T11:40:00.000-07:00

Know the 10 signs on Alzheimer's disease.

1. Memory changes the disrupt daily life.

2. Challenges in planning or solving problems.

3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks.

4. Confusion with time or place.

5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships.

6. New problems with words in speaking or writing.

7. Misplacing things and inablility to retrace steps.

8. Decreased or poor judgment.

9. Withdrawal from work or social activities.

10. Changes in mood or personality.

This information was provided by www.alz.org. Check Web site for more detailed information.

Day 142: Recycle plastic grocery bags

2009-05-22T21:04:00.000-07:00

If you choose not to use reusable shopping bags (and if you do, be sure to wash them regularl as a recent study showed a link to such bags and food poisoning), Winn-Dixie asks that you please support their recycling efforts by returning the plastic bags, which are made out of 20 percent recycled materials, to any Winn-Dixie store.

Day 141: Free poverty

2009-05-21T18:58:00.001-07:00

See how many cups of water you can donate by testing your knowledge about the world. Each correct answer results in 10 cups on your behalf.

Here are the rules, from the site:

"Your mission here is to locate the place given to you [e.g. Rome, Italy] and how many cups of water we donate on your behalf depends on how accurate your answer is. Once you have located one city or landmark, another location will be shown to you. You may play the game however many times you wish. Of course, the more you play and the more you are correct, the greater difference you will make with your donation. If your answer is correct, 10 cups of water will be donated. The further away you are from the location, the number of cups will decrease. If your answer is nowhere near the exact location, no cups of water will be donated. Therefore by playing this game, not only are you doing a good deed for others, but you are also gaining knowledge for yourself."

I am horrifying terrible at this. It's geography. I'm embarrassed. I scored 45 on my first attempt.

Day 140: Pampers rewards

2009-05-19T05:21:00.000-07:00

Pampers Gift to Grow rewards program enables you to collect points that can be redeemed for gift cards or other rewards by posting a code inside its packages.

Another option is to redeem your points to help Marach of Dimes. Now through June 30, you can donate your points to help fund research, community services, education and advocacy to save babies' lives.

For every point you donate, Pampers will donate $0.10 to March of Dimes, up to a total of $20,000.

Day 139: Consider UPromise

2009-05-19T05:16:00.001-07:00

If you don't have children but are close to someone who does, volunteer to help them contribute to their UPromise fund.

UPromise is a college savings program in which things you do every day (shop online, buy groceries, eat out at restaurants) earn cash.

All your earnings go directly into your Upromise college savings account. Then, you decide if you'd like to grow them tax-free in a 529 plan to pay for college, use them to pay down a Sallie Mae student loan, or receive a check for college expenses.

Before I had children, I signed up and saved for my nephew. Just ask the account holder to send you a friends and family e-mail in order to sign up.

Day 138: Vote for Feeding America

2009-05-18T23:45:00.000-07:00

Target is giving away $3 million, and you decide who gets how much.

By logging in or signing up on Facebook and voting each day through May 25, you can help an organization earn a percentage of the $3 million Target is giving away to 10 charities later this month.

By logging in or signing up on Facebook and voting for Feeding America each day through May 25, you can help it earn a percentage of the $3 million Target is giving away to 10 charities later this month.

Vote for Feeding America now!

The more votes Feeding America gets, the more dollars they receive to help the more than 25 million hungry Americans they assist each year. These dollars are more important now than ever as we approach summer, when many children are left without free and reduced-price school breakfasts and lunches.

You can vote once every 24 hours until May 25.

Day 137: Collect Tyson labels

2009-05-17T19:09:00.000-07:00

Joining Box Tops 4 Education and Campbell's Soup labels is Tyson's Project A+. Clip and save Tyson labels, turn them in to your school, and your school receives 24 cents from each label collected.

Click here to see if your school is registered.

Click here to register your school.

Day 136: Recycle THIS

2009-05-16T20:31:00.000-07:00

This site from the UK is so fun. Recycle This is a site where you can submit questions on how you can recycle "insert object name here" and they'll give you a new way to use said product. For example, what to do with old name tag/ID badgets, a toaster grill, laundry detergent bottles, silk scarves, broken bike helmets and so on.

Day 135: Use the web

2009-05-15T20:38:00.000-07:00

Check out www.socialactions.com.

Day 134: Learn about charitable tax deductions

2009-05-14T18:58:00.001-07:00

By educating yourself on the laws regarding charitable donations, you can make more informed decisions on the things you want to part with. Since tax law is not my specialty, here's a link to 'Lectric Law Library.

Day 133: Vote for a new playground

2009-05-12T17:14:00.000-07:00

Kellogg's Frosted Flakes is rebuilding America's playing fields. More than 1,000 fields were nominated and 100 remain. Vote by May 31. The top 30 vote-getters will get a new field.

You can search for fields in your area by state or zip code. I voted for Pelican Athletic Club in New Orleans.

Day 132: Get teens involved

2009-05-12T10:15:00.001-07:00

Do you know a teenager who doesn't text? Me either. So send the one you love to www.dosomething.org, a youth community-service non-profit, where they can sign up to receive text messages when volunteer opportunities arise in their area. Or, they can text "do something" to 30644, where they'll be prompted to enter their zip code. All opportunties are screened for legitimacy, so it's safe as well.

Day 131: Spend your vacation helping others

2009-05-11T19:49:00.000-07:00

This is one for the truly selfless. But every spring break I see hundreds of teens and young adults venture down to southeast Louisiana to help in recovery efforts, and I can't help but be touched. They work with Habitat for Humanity and other organizations to rebuild houses and playgrounds. Obviously, these are extraordinary people doing extraordinary things. But for those of us who don't have the time during our usual schedules to volunteer, sacrificing one day of free time might not be asking too much.

Day 130: Check out GiveStream

2009-05-10T20:18:00.000-07:00

Givestream.com enables you to set up a virtual mall that your supporters can search and shop, with a portion of each sale going to your organization. Here's how it works:

The merchant finder is a web tool that links to hundreds of leading online retail merchants. Supporters will generate contributions to the organization on every successful purchase originating from the organization's GiveStream Center.

The product comparison engine is a web tool that enables organization supporters to search and compare products offered by hundreds of leading online retail merchants. The search helps organization supporters to find and compare the best deals. Supporters will generate contributions to the organization with every successful purchase originating from the Organization GiveStream Center.

The GiveStream Web Search lets your supporters generate contributions to your organization through their everyday searches. The GiveStream Web Search is a Toolbar powered by Google, which ensures the quality of the results.

For more information, check out their FAQs.

Day 129: Double your donation dollars

2009-05-09T21:26:00.000-07:00

This blog focuses on free ways to donate to charity, but when you find that you have the dollars to donate, look for ways to make it go as far as possible. For example, in the month of May, BD (a global medical technology company) will match dollar for dollar every donation received by the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. for information on that program, click here.

Many corporations offer similar matching programs, as well. Check with your employer for details

Day 128: Send your mom an e-card for Mother's Day

2009-05-08T12:37:00.000-07:00

For every Starlight Mother's day card you send, the Starlight Children's Foundation will get $1 (up to $25,000). Send one to your mom, mother-in-law, grandmother, godmother, a special aunt or other maternal figure. Click here to get started.

Day 127: Play word games

2009-05-07T19:07:00.000-07:00

At Charitii.com, play word game puzzles to donate to the charity of your choice. You may choose from the following:

Donate 10 oz. of drinking water
Give 10 grains of wheat
Put a child in school for 10 minutes
Save 10 square inches of rainforest land

Challenge your friends to see who can get the highest score.

There are charts that show how much the site has raised. Good luck!

Day 126: Utilize YouTube

2009-05-06T19:44:00.000-07:00

Create a video for your cause and post it on YouTube. Create a montage of different events you've been a part of, or simply state why you're an advocate and how others can help your efforts. Anyone who does a search for your organization will find it, and they can spread the message as well.

Day 125: Help a family in need

2009-05-05T19:13:00.000-07:00

ABC's Extreme Makeover is looking for "deserving families and deserving people — people who have amazing strength of character and who put their own needs aside to help others."

If you know of a family in desperate need of home repairs or renovation, click here for information on how to nominate them.

Day 124: Start a recycling drive

2009-05-04T20:39:00.000-07:00

If you have access to recycling paper, cans or plastics, but your employer, school, church or organization, doesn't, consider forming a team to take over those duties on a biweekly or monthly basis. Many centers pay for scrap metal, so it's a good way to raise money for your cause if you have the manpower.

Day 123: Donate your timeshare

2009-05-03T19:29:00.000-07:00

Trying to unload a timeshare and having no luck? You can donate it to a cause and receive a tax deduction. More than $3 million in time shares have been donated as of January.

For more information, click here.

Day 122: Take action daily

2009-05-02T21:25:00.000-07:00

Make a difference with care2, where you are given daily directions to make a better world. The site will track your progress and give you cumulative results of others as well. For example, it will send you a link that has 10 sites that will make contributions based on your click to charities such as save the baby seals and the rain forest, stop domestic violence against women and race to help children in need.

Click here to sign up for daily actions.

Day 121: Learn to help a choking victim

2009-05-01T21:34:00.000-07:00

The first order of business, as silly as it seems, is to ask the victim if he or she is choking. If they can verbally respond, air is getting through, so let the person try to dislodge the item on their own. Just stay near and be prepared to assist.

If they cannot speak, immediately begin performing the Heimich maneuver. If you have help, ask someone to dial 911.

Wrap your arm around victim's waist.
Make a fist and place your thumb beneath the victim's abdomen, below the rib cage and above the navel.
Grasp your fist with other hand and quickly thrust upward.
Repeat until item is dislodged.

Source: www.heimlichinstitute.org.

Day 120: Find volunteer opportunities

2009-04-30T20:35:00.001-07:00

If you're willing to give your time but are just undecided on where you feel your time would be best spent, check out volunteermatch to find a good fit. This site has made more than 4 million referrals. All you have to do is enter your ZIP code and keywords describing the opportunity you're looking for. You can even search for virtual opportunities.

There are 57,925 current opportunities.

Day 119: Donate a car

2009-04-29T17:15:00.000-07:00

I knew that Bridge House in New Orleans had wonderful commericals, but I wasn't sure what services it rendered. According to its Web site, "For fifty years Bridge House has served as a substance-abuse treatment center of last resort. Every day we accept and treat those to whom most other institutions deny admission: the homeless and indigent drug and alcohol abusers of our community. The only requirement for admission is a sincere desire to change, and we accept individuals without regard to race, religion, sexual orientation or ability to pay."

The other thing I knew about the organization is that it accepts car donations. I've always wanted to keep a car long enough to donate it (my first car was totaled, my second was gumbo-ed out {another story} and my third was flooded out). Oh, they also accept boats, too. For information on how to donate your car, click here.

Day 118: Get tested

2009-04-28T18:49:00.000-07:00

Raising community awareness is vital to prevention and understanding the spread of HIV and AIDS.

Schools, clubs, businesses and other groups can call upon NO/AIDS staff members and volunteers for workshops, lectures and seminars on AIDS-related subjects.

NO/AIDS also offers free and anonymous HIV testing. No blood, no needles, just an oral swab. It offers testing Monday through Saturday. Call the hotline at 504-821-6050 to make an appointment.

For more information, go to http://www.crescentcity.com/noaids/services.htm.

Day 117: Donate unused leave time

2009-04-27T20:45:00.000-07:00

I came across an article that states that some employees, in particular federal government employees, can donate their unused leave time to others, such as disaster victimes. Check with your employer to see if this applies for you. I know it doesn't for me.

Day 116: Technology Trade-In Programs

2009-04-26T13:54:00.000-07:00

Here's a way to not only help the environment but help you save money as well. The next time you upgrade computer, camera or other technological equipment, check with your retailers trade-in/recycling program. Vendors such as Radio Shack, HP and Gateway will take your outdated equipment and turn it into a credit on your new purchase. If your item has no value, the often will recycle them free of charge.

Day 115: Help Grow Your Soup

2009-04-25T19:12:00.000-07:00

Every time you click here on the "grow" button, Campbell will donate 50 seeds to Future Farmers of America. When you request a packet of tomato seeds, it will donate 100 more. You can even recycle your soup can, it's the perfect size for seedlings.

Day 114: Contact your local animal shelter

2009-04-24T19:15:00.000-07:00

Animal shelters often are looking for volunteers to walk or feed the animals, pass out flyers looking for adoptive parents, collect newspaper or blankets to line cages. Call your nearest shelter to find out its specific needs.

Day 113: Virtual Caregiving Part II

2009-04-23T13:34:00.001-07:00

CarePages Web sites are free patient blogs that connect friends and families during a health challenge. Offer to maintain one for an ill family member or friend. They can update you with doctors appointments, test results, etc., and you can update the masses.

Day 112: Double Up on Dinner

2009-04-22T20:51:00.000-07:00

The next time you cook a batch of gumbo, jambalaya or a casserole or stew, double up on ingredients and send half to an elderly neighbor or stressed out friend.

Day 111: Click for a Cure

2009-04-21T21:02:00.000-07:00

If www.thebreastcancersite.com gets 200 clicks in April, it will donate $10,000 to research, and each click in itself generates a free mammogram. The contributions are made by non-profit greatergood.org. Right now, it is at 66 percent of its goal with nine days left. You can send an e-card to inform others about the cause.

Day 110: Adopt a Highway

2009-04-21T01:21:00.000-07:00

Hawaii and several other states have adopt-a-highway programs in which groups come together to help maintain a stretch of public road. If your state doesn't have such a highway (apparently Louisiana did before Katrina but does not now), pledge to make sure an area near you remains litter-free.

Day 109: Start a carpool

2009-04-19T22:10:00.000-07:00

After last summer's crazy gas prices, a few of my coworkers began carpooling. Their only question one year later is: Why haven't we been doing this all along? They have found they save money on gas, reduce their dependence on foreign oil and are able to vent to one another before taking work issues home with them.

Day 108: Virtual caregiving

2009-04-19T01:55:00.000-07:00

If someone you love is ill and you'd like to find a way to help them through the crisis without being intrusive, check out foodtidings.com and lotsahelpinghands.com. Here you and others can sign up to prepare and deliver meals or provide other specific types of help.

I apologize for the lateness of this post. (I switched my settings to Pacific time to get it in on time.) I'm attending a friend's wedding in Hawaii, and while I made it here in time, my luggage has not (still has not actually). So I am at the mercy of the kind folks at American Airlines to deliver not only my bathing suit and clothing, but my laptop charger and video camera as well. I do have my next few days' posts prepared, it's just a matter of finding a way to get them on the Internet to you. Thanks for understanding!!!

Day 107: Get neighbors involved

2009-04-17T08:09:00.000-07:00

Pick a drive - clothing, books, DVD, cell phones, toys, etc. Then create a flyer to distribute to your neighbors asking them to participate. Tell them you are collecting (insert items here) for (insert charity here) until (insert deadline here). Ask them to kindly leave items on your porch, back yard, whereever you like and deliver them on the designated day.

I think that lots of times people want to help, they just don't want to take the initiative. So by taking those early steps, you can help inspire your neighbors to be more giving.

Day 106: Donate expired coupons to troops overseas

2009-04-16T19:29:00.001-07:00

U.S. military families stationed overseas can redeem expired coupons (for up to six months). Manufacturers coupons only, no Internet or "in-store" coupons. Grocerysavingstips.com has a list of addresses of military bases that you can reference. Click here for the list.

Day 105: Sign up for Ashton Kutcher's Twitter

2009-04-15T11:50:00.002-07:00

Celebrity Ashton Kutcher has challenged CNN to a Twitter contest. If he reaches 1 million Twitter followers before April 24, he will donate 10,000 mosquito bed nets to charity for World Malaria Day if he wins.

Join today at http://twitter.com/aplusk.

Day 104: Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity

2009-04-14T19:15:00.003-07:00

Habitat for Humanity offers opportunities for individuals and groups to help build (or in New Orleans' case, rebuild) houses. To volunteer, read their FAQ. Read safety guidelines before registering. Check their volunteer calendar for opportunities.

Volunteer Groups, will need to visit the group volunteers page, and individuals must visit this page for more information.

Day 103: Campbell's Labels for Education

2009-04-13T21:02:00.002-07:00

On Day 10 I blogged about Box Tops 4 Education. Campbell's also has a program to benefit schools, the Labels for Education program. Clip and save UPC codes on labels and bottle caps from participating products and send them in to earn reward points for your school. Products include Campbell's, Franco-American, Spghettios, Swanson, V8 and Prego. Five-point products include For more information, go to the program's Web site.

Day 102: Create a cookbook

2009-04-12T18:12:00.003-07:00

A cookbook is a great fundraising idea. People love seeing their name in print, and submitting their favorite recipe is an easy way for them to do that.

You can even get kids involved by asking them to give their parents' recipes. We made such a cookbook when I was in grammar school, and we had some responses such as: "Then you pizza in the microwave for 40 hours; my mom makes pisketi and four meatballs; and my mom gets all our food from MawMaw's house."

Collect recipes from school, church, work. Get everyone involved. Have a contest to pick a cover drawing, print them out and sell.

Day 101: Donate a prom dress

2009-04-11T18:33:00.003-07:00

It's prom season! This year, when the teen nearest and dearest to your heart has celebrated her big day, talk to her about donating her dress to donatemydress.org, which is a national network that connects dress drive organizations that help get special-occasion gowns to girls who cannot afford them.

If she seems reluctant, just tell her Taylor Swift donated hers!

Day 100: Make a bucket list

2009-04-10T20:03:00.005-07:00

Make a list of 50 things you want to do or accomplish before you die and make at least five of the items include volunteering or supporting your favorite charities. You can pledge to take a volunteer vacation to a disaster area or to help build a house for Habitat for Humanity in your area. You can consider becoming a more active member in your community. You can vow to complete 365 days of giving without spending! And if you come up with 265 more ways, send them my way!

Day 99: Share your children

2009-04-09T20:53:00.004-07:00

If you are blessed with a beautiful child or children, share the joy they bring to you with those who can use a lift, such as the elderly or infirm. If you feel uncomfortable bringing them to a nursing home or hospital, consider your local senior center, which is full of vibrant souls.

Day 98: Recycling Cell Phones Part II

2009-04-08T19:13:00.005-07:00

Recycling mobile phones was one of the first entries created on this blog.

But seeing as this is National Cell Phone Awareness week, I'm taking this opportunity to remind you of some other ways to reuse those handheld devices.

The EPA has lined up several big name partners, including AT&T, Samsung, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless that will offer promotions, contests or giveaways, along with easy in-store or online recycling opportunities. Other participants include Best Buy, LG Electronics, Motorola, Nokia, Office Depot, Sony Ericsson and Staples.

Find a cell phone recycling location near you.

Other ways to recycle the phone are as follows:

Cellphonesforsoldiers.com turn old cell phones into prepaid calling cards that members of the U.S. military overseas can use to reach family back home. The program works with Recellular.

Wirelessrecycling. A portion of the money generated by recycling your cell phone will go to a charity of your choice.

Eco-cell partners with conservation organizations so that nonprofits benefit from the donation of your used cell phone.

Day 97: Donate technology

2009-04-07T21:31:00.006-07:00

Free Geek is a non-profit community organization that recycles and refurbishes used technology and provides computers, education and job skills training to volunteers in exchange for their services.

Free Geek grants computers to schools and charities who benefit others.

It recycles to keep toxic e-waste chemicals out of landfills.

We provide classes and technical support to ensure successful reuse for our computer recipients.

For more information, click here.

Day 96: Record your family history

2009-04-06T20:36:00.003-07:00

Instead of buying expensive gifts, create a family tree to share with your loved ones. Take the opportunity to interview your elders and document your history. It's a gift that will last a lifetime and a great way to learn from those who have been through it all and lived to tell about it.

Day 95: Write a thank you note

2009-04-05T15:27:00.002-07:00

Pen a thank you note to a teacher, coach or mentor who made a difference in your life. For bonus points, make it someone whom you haven't contacted in more than 10 years.

Day 94: Be positive!

2009-04-04T13:18:00.001-07:00

"If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change your attitude; Don't Complain." - Maya Angelou

Check out A Complaint Free World. It is a non-profit organization dedicated to positively transforming the consciousness of the world.

This is going to be a huge challenge for me personally, but I'd love to see how far I can go.

Day 93: Register through Wedding Channel

2009-04-03T08:48:00.002-07:00

If you're making wedding preparations, weddingchannel.com will contribute 5 percent of each purchase off your registry. Here's how it works:

Just register with any partner store on WeddingChannel.com and select a charity. If you've already registered online or in-store, you can still select a charity to participate.

Participating retailers include Tiffany & Co., Bloomingdale's, Macy's, Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, JCPenney and Amazon.

Or you can create a charity registry, where your friends and family can donate to your favorite organization as their wedding gift to you. You can select up to four charities and still have a traditional registry as well.

Day 92: Calculate your ecological footprint

2009-04-02T18:06:00.003-07:00

Find out how many planet earths it takes to support your lifestyle at www.earthday.net.

First you create an avatar, which will represent you throughout the quiz.

Answer a few questions, such as how often do you eat meat each week; how many miles you drive per week; your average electricity bill, etc.

After taking my quiz, if every person lived like me, we'd need 5.4 earths to survive.

After pledging to reduce the amount of animal products I eat, buy fewer packaged products and only purchase EnergyStar appliances, my footprint was reduced to 4.4.

To take the quiz, click here.

Day 91: Update your paperwork

2009-04-01T14:24:00.000-07:00

This year, as you're getting your finances in order, consider adding your favorite charity a beneficiary of your will, pension plan or retirement fund. It's a matter of deciding what percentage you're comfortable giving and filling out some paperwork.

Day 90: Check out Grant Gopher

2009-03-31T18:20:00.003-07:00

GrantGopher.com is a Web site designed for free, easy access to millions of available grants for nonprofit organizations. Searching for that information can take hours, time that could instead by sent filling out applications and getting money.

There is no software to download, just a search engine that gives you access to an entire database of opporunities. They include everything they can find: corporate, community and private foundations and all levels of government.

Day 89: Take the 30 Day Challenge

2009-03-30T15:19:00.002-07:00

The mission of Spreading Joy Corporation is to aid in restoring hope to those who otherwise would feel there is no use to try and make a difference. It believes many people often forget that "there is no joy like spreading joy," and you never know which gift will make a life changing impact.

You can help by taking the 30 Day Challenge. For the month of April, look for ways you can spread joy each and every day. You can volunteer, let someone ahead of you in line, make a donation or have a no chore-only fun day for your children.

For more ideas on how you can spread joy, click here.

Day 88: Before you buy or sell a home, check here

2009-03-29T18:15:00.004-07:00

HomeCash for Charity offers automatic cash rebates on your real estate commissions before you buy or sell a home. Simply register before you hire an agent, hire any agent you like and, after closing, get a check that you can donate to the charity of your choice.

Upon hearing of this program, I immediately went to its FAQ link to get more information. Here's what I found out:

Q. What is HomeCash for Charity?

A. HomeCash for Charity allows Care2 home buyers and sellers to get cash back using any real estate agent — while supporting a favorite cause or charity at the same time. Care2 members can also save on mortgage costs.

Q. How does HomeCash for Charity work?

A. By registering with the program before you agree to hire an agent, you are eligible to receive cash back from real estate commissions after closing. During on-line registration, you decide how much of the rebate you keep or share with your favorite charity. After closing, you get a rebate check and your donation is sent to your non-profit.

Q. Does this mean Care2 is getting in the real estate business?

A. No. Care2 has partnered with Chase and a national real estate company, HomeGift Realty, which helps non-profit organizations around the country to raise funds any time a supporter buys or sells a home.

Q. When did real estate companies start offering cash back on commissions?

A. For years, big-brand, established real estate companies like Coldwell Banker and Prudential have been offering cash rebates to members of trade associations, corporate executives and other affinity groups. Now, Homegift offers these same cash back incentives to members of non-profit organizations as a way of encouraging charitable giving. More about HomeGift Realty, Inc.

Note: There are only 10 states that do not allow rebates: Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Oregon and Tennessee.

Day 87: Make a pledge

2009-03-28T16:29:00.003-07:00

Pledgehammer.com is a site that helps you keep your promises. It makes your pledge public and asks you to decide on a deadline as well as a financial incentive. Should you not succeed on your promise, it encourages you to donate money to a charity of your choice.

Some pledges include:

I pledge that every time I buy something new, I will donate something I already have or I will donate $7.00 each time I don't.

I pledge that I will send a balloon into space to take photographs by Sept. 30, 2011 or I will donate 250.00 GBP to charity.

I pledge to finish reading all the self-help books I've started, quit smoking and lose 30 pounds by Dec. 31, 2009, or I will donate 100.00 USD to charity.

You get the idea. It's fun, easy and an interesting way to hold yourself accountable.

Day 86: Switch to Nutrish

2009-03-27T13:53:00.004-07:00

If you are a dog owner, this is a great opportunity to switch to pet food that uses all natural ingredients, and even better, all proceeds from the sales go to animal rescue.

Here's what Rachael Ray has to say about her creation, Nutrish:

"So I had this awesome idea to work with a team of pet nutrition experts to
create a pet food made with simple, natural ingredients that any furry family member
would love. With Rachael Ray Nutrish, my Isaboo gets all the delicious goodness she
loves to gobble up and all the nutrition I want her to have. Real meat — like chicken or beef — is the first ingredient. There are no fillers. No junk. Just lots of good, wholesome stuff. How cool is that? And you know me. I’m all about giving back, so all of my proceeds from Rachael Ray Nutrish go to charities that take care of animals who have no one else to look out for them."

You can get a free sample of Nutrish by clicking here.

Day 85: Organize a clothing swap

2009-03-26T18:28:00.002-07:00

I was flipping through Shape magazine and came across this fantastic tip from Elena Lipson, 33, of Bellingham, WA.

"I help coordinate bimonthly clothing swaps in my community. As our child grows, we're able to give away things that no longer fit, come away with a bag full of clothing for the next size up, and feel a sense of friendship as we connect with other families."

Good for the planet, good for the pocketbook and any unwanted items can be given to charity.

Day 84: Shake and bake

2009-03-25T14:30:00.001-07:00

Participate in Share Our Strength's Great American Bake Sale, a national effort that encourages Americans to host bake sales to help end childhood hunger. Since 2003, more than 1.3 million people have hosted bake sales, raising nearly $5 million.

The event runs through July 31.

Cllick here for a checklist that provides tips on promoting and recipes for your event.

Day 83: Donate books

2009-03-23T22:19:00.003-07:00

There are many organizations that will take the books off your shelves.

The Community Center is looking for donations of used books to put in its reading area and give out to local residents. Books should be suitable for children and families to enjoy and should be in average condition (no mildew, missing covers or missing pages). Hardcover and paperback are both fine. Books can be dropped off at the Community Center of St Bernard, 1107 LeBeau St, Arabi from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Friday.

Local libraries often accept used books. Contact yours for details. Some libraries only want very new books. Others will take almost anything and will even clean up dirty books. Some libraries sell donated books in order to raise funds for library services.

You also might check with local hospitals, women's or homeless shelters, children's reading or after-school programs and senior centers.

Day 82: Neighborhood Watch

2009-03-22T22:36:00.002-07:00

Create or join a neighborhood watch program. USA on watch is the face of the national neighborhood watch programs. It recommends you follow these five easy steps to register your neighborhood:

1. Recruit and organize as many neighbors as possible.
2. Contact your local law enforcement agency and schedule a meeting.
3. Discuss community concerns and develop an action plan.
4. Hold regular meetings and trainings.
5. Implement a phone tree and take action steps.

Additional information can be found at www.usaonwatch.org

Day 81: Quilt for Kids

2009-03-22T19:07:00.003-07:00

This is another wonderful way for those with a special skills set to give back. Quilts for Kids, Inc. transforms discontinued designer fabrics into quilts that comfort children with cancer, AIDS, and other life-threatening illnesses
as well as battered & abused children. Its goal is to link design centers nationwide to their communities, so that children in need in those regions may be served.

More than 40,000 quilts have been distributed worldwide.

In particular, they are looking for 36-inch square NICU quilts or approximately 38" x 45" crib/lap quilts.

Recommended fabrics are 100 percent cotton, regular or flannel. Please do not use polar fleece. The kids love brightly colored, kid-friendly fabrics.

Upon completion, mail quilts to:
Quilts for Kids, Inc.
11 Effingham Road
Yardley, PA. 19067

Please call 215-295-5484 with questions.

Day 80: Join a bereavement committee

2009-03-21T20:14:00.002-07:00

There's nothing more devastating than losing a loved one. But a great way to help alleviate some of the burdens of the grieving is to help take care of some of the mundane tasks while they're coping. Simply cooking a meal or helping serve their family during services are strong gestures. Perhaps you can take care of their lawn or run errands for them as well. A small gesture goes a long way during difficult times.

Day 79: Walk a Mile in Her Shoes

2009-03-20T17:25:00.002-07:00

The Walk a Mile in Her Shoes: The International Men's March to Stop Rape, Sexual Assault & Gender Violence is a fun opportunity for men to educate and rally the community to take action to prevent sexual violence.

In asking men to publicly stand up, particularly in high heels, and show their commitment to ending violence, their actions will encourage other men to start thinking about how they personally can do their part to end violence.

Tulane University will hold its march April 3.

To volunteer (women) or sign up for the walk (men), please click here.

Day 78: Be creative - like Joaquin the Bean!

2009-03-19T14:48:00.003-07:00

Three-year-old Joaquin has been diagnosed with epilepsy, and his parents have created this awesome, funny, inspiring Web site to raise money for research and awareness of the disease.

One original idea they had was to take pictures of Joaquin holding signs of popular phrases and sayings. You can't look at this boy and not feel a huge smile spread across your face. And to raise money for their cause, you can send in your favorite saying, and Joaquin will hold the sign and pose just for you!

Another great idea is they've created Joaquin the Bean T-shirts that are available for purchase, featuring a picture of the most punk-rockin' kid around.

I just think this is one of the most creative fundraising sites I've ever seen. It's the perfect example of thinking outside the box. It got me to share the idea with all of you!

Day 77: Clean out your cupboards

2009-03-18T08:51:00.002-07:00

Go through your pantry and see if there are items you have stocked that you know you won't use and bring them to your local food bank. Canned items and non-perishables are always welcome contributions.

Some examples:

Peanut Butter
Canned Goods: meats, stews, tuna fish, pork & beans, navy beans, spam, soup
applesauce, peaches, pears, fruit cocktail,
Green beans, corn,pPeas and other vegetables
Dry pasta and Ramen noodles
Dried beans
Powdered milk
Spaghetti sauce, tomato sauce, ravioli, beefaroni
Macaroni & cheese and other packaged dinners
Cereal
100% Juice
Saltine crackers

Day 76: Pledge to Dine In to Fight Childhood Hunger

2009-03-17T08:45:00.003-07:00

By simply hosting a dinner with your friends and family, you can help make a difference for the more than 12 million American children and their families who don't have access to regular healthy meals.

Pledge to have a dinner with family and friends to talk about childhood hunger and STOUFFER'S® will donate $5.

Click here to make your pledge.

Day 75: Reach out, give support

2009-03-16T15:16:00.004-07:00

This idea comes from Becky, a reader who is founder of www.greatestgiftfoundation.org:

Do a blog search on an illness or difficult event that is close to your heart (i.e. breast cancer, or dying mom, or kidney transplant) and stop by a few blogs written by people who are dealing with those issues. Leave them a comment of support, something simple, like "I found your blog on a search and read a few entries, and just wanted you to know that my heart is going out to you today. I am so sorry to hear about what you are going through, and you will be in my thoughts." Bloggers who are sharing personal stories of tragedy are often doing so to reach out for support, and a few words from a stranger can go SO FAR in making them feel less alone!

And that concludes my first guest entry to this blog. I should also thank my friend, Celeste, who has given me at least a dozen ideas for entries, and Shannon, who reached out with the shopping mall and Soles United ideas, and Dawn (from Nova Scotia!), who clued me in on Earth Day, as well as a few other entries to come. Obviously, I can't get to 365 alone, so your contributions have been greatly appreciated.

Day 74: Give a compliment

2009-03-14T23:29:00.002-07:00

It won't cure cancer or save dolphins or stop coastal erosion, but it could make someone's day. Give a compliment to someone who could use it. Tell someone you appreciate them. Hold a door open. Try to be less of a jerk, whatever. Just be nicer.

Vow to start off with one a day and see how quickly it becomes a habit.

I appreciate you reading this blog!

Day 73: Shop with a purpose

2009-03-14T09:35:00.002-07:00

A great way to donate to your favorite local health care institution is to shop online through the Association for Health Care Philanthropy shopping mall, where you can access dozens of store, including Apple, Home Depot, Target, PetSmart and numerous travel outlets, such as Hotwire and Sandals, plus more. A percentage of each purchase you make will go to the health services organization of your choosing.

Day 72: Become a Big Brother/Big Sister

2009-03-12T22:13:00.002-07:00

Big Brothers/Big Sisters has been the No. 1 mentoring program for youth for more than 100 years. It is a volunteer-driven organization with a proven track record of success in serving families and kids. In southeastern Louisiana, the goal is to serve 2,000 kids by 2010.

Getting together is a great time for both Bigs and Littles. It doesn’t require a special occasion or expensive activities; just a few hours every month sharing simple things you already enjoy with a young person. Things like shooting hoops, playing a board game, sharing a pizza, taking a walk in the park or just hanging out and talking.

For more information on volunteering, click here.

Day 71: Donate plasma

2009-03-12T12:19:00.003-07:00

Plasma is the clear, straw-colored liquid portion of the blood that remains after the removal of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and other cellular components. It is the single largest component of human blood, comprising about 55 percent, and contains water, salts, enzymes, antibodies and other proteins. Human plasma is the source of proteins and antibodies including albumin, clotting factors, immunoglobulins and fibrinogen, which are used to make therapies that treat life-threatening rare, chronic, and often genetic diseases such as hemophilia, primary immunodeficiencies, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, and neurological and autoimmune disorders.

Plasma donors are providing a vital service to patients who suffer from rare, chronic diseases, and the industry that manufactures these life-saving plasma-derived therapies appreciates their commitment to donate.

To find a plasma donation center near you, do a goodsearch for donating plasma and your city.

I've been struggling to find a location in the New Orleans area. I believe this could be Katrina-related. If anyone knows of a local spot, please e-mail me, and I will update this entry. Thanks.

Day 70: Shave your head

2009-03-11T14:30:00.004-07:00

St. Baldrick's raises awareness and funds to cure children's cancer by supporting research and fellowship. There are three ways to participate:

Be a shavee - register to shave your head and have friends and families donate on your behalf

Be a barber - licensed barbers or cosmetologists can register to volunteer

Organize an event.

To find someone in your area to support, click here.

Day 69: Vote Earth

2009-03-10T15:20:00.002-07:00

Save the date of March 28, 2009, at 8:30 p.m. to participate in Earth Hour, where you can cast your vote for or against global warming. Click here for more details.

Day 68: Help Pampers Support UNICEF

2009-03-09T12:16:00.003-07:00

Pampers has teamed with UNICEF to create the "1 Pack = 1 Vaccine" program to get lifesaving tetanus vaccines to newborns. For each pack of specially marked Pampers diapers and wipes that you buy during the promotion period; Pampers donates the cost of one vaccine to UNICEF. In two years of the program, more than 40 million vaccines have been given.

Day 67: Clip coupons

2009-03-08T17:38:00.003-07:00

The Sunday newspaper is a great resource for sale ads. Clip coupons from the circulars and hold on to them. In the weeks before they expire, compare your coupons with free-after-rebate specials from your local drugstore. Walgreens, for example, has a booklet you can pick up every month with several items free after rebate. This is a great way to get things that you need for free or for the price of the tax you paid only, but it's also a great way to collect items (toothbrushes and toiletries are good examples) that you can bring to a local homeless or women's shelter.

Day 66: Live Organ Donation

2009-03-07T14:38:00.002-08:00

Today it’s possible for living donors to provide a kidney, a segment of the liver, even the lobe of a lung or the pancreas.

For more information, visit www.LivingOrganDonor.org.

To read an amazing recount of a living donor journey, that of Becky Waller, who received the world’s first laparoscopic living donor liver resection in 2006 for her brother, Joe Waller, who had Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis check out her Web site www.greatestgiftfoundation.org.

Becky created the non-profit organization to improve the care, knowledge, and support that living organ donors receive throughout their donation experience, from initial consideration through recovery and beyond. They do this by connecting living donors with each other as a community to share their experiences and support, by simplifying the search for the best available resources, and by working with transplant programs to identify and promote the use of best practices in donor care.

To donate organs in the case of your death, simply be sure to indicate it on your driver’s license.

Day 65: Be a Designated Driver

2009-03-05T22:27:00.002-08:00

Today marks the four-year anniversary of the death of my beloved grandmother, who was killed by an impaired driver in an automobie "accident." In honor of her, I ask you to strongly consider being a designated driver.

The following statistics were provided by Mothers Against Drunk Driving:

Every year, nearly 13,000 people are killed by drunk drivers with an illegal alcohol level of .08 BAC or above. That means that every month more than 1,000 families must live with the tragic consequences of drunk driving.

So give up the keys or call a cab if you think you've had too many. Thank you.

Day 64: More on the parade front

2009-03-05T08:38:00.003-08:00

As I wrote in Day 16: Throw Them Something, Mister, Jimmy's Kids of St. Bernard Parish collects donated beads and Mardi Gras throws. There's another organization that accepts them as well.

ARC of Greater New Orleans, formerly the Association for Retarded Children, provides various services through the metropolitan area, including early intervention, family service, employment and supported living.

Bring your throws to one of the following locations:

925 S. Labarre Road in Metairie
5700 Loyola Avenue in New Orleans
333 Sala Avenue in Westwego

Day 63: Go to parade, catch veggies, donate them

2009-03-03T22:18:00.002-08:00

This Sunday is the Irish, Italian and Islenos Parade in St. Bernard Parish. Every year pounds upon pounds of potatos, carrots, cabbages, lemons end up on the streets of Judge Perez Drive, simply because, really, how much of that stuff can you store at home?

This year, collect your throws, take what you need and donate the rest to the Community Center of St. Bernard Parish at 1107 LeBeau Street in Arabi. I e-mailed Iray, the executive director, and found out they absolutely will accept and utilize any organic donations they can get.

Please forward this message to anyone you know who is attending the parade. Let's not let all that good food go to waste.

Day 62: Donate breast milk

2009-03-03T08:45:00.003-08:00

The National Milk Bank is a nationwide organization that collects donated human milk, ensures milk safety and quality and makes it available for infants in need. Its goal is to make quality human milk to all premature and critically ill babies. Donated breast milk is also helpful to adopted babies or babies whose mother cannot produce enough milk.

For information, call 1-888-522-MILK.

You can apply online here.

Day 61: Offer to babysit for free

2009-03-02T15:32:00.002-08:00

Do you know a young couple who are parents of, say, a toddler? You have no idea how much they would appreciate a break. That's charity, right? Says the mother of a toddler, "Heck, yeah, that's charity!"

Day 60: Take a survey

2009-03-01T17:16:00.003-08:00

At Make a Difference surveys, $3 will be donated to one of several organizations you can choose from (I picked the Special Olympics). It's one of those surveys where they are looking for your interests and illnesses and whatnot so they can send you the types of junk mail we're trying to avoid, so just use common sense when providing personal information. Overall, a simple task for $3.

Day 59: Give in gift bags

2009-02-28T18:36:00.002-08:00

For special occasions, give presents in gift bags and attach a card so the bag can be reused. For filler in the bag, take your junk mail or used paper or newspaper, run through a shredder, and boom, you have a tissue-paper-esque product!

Day 58: Recognize MS Awareness Week

2009-02-27T14:56:00.003-08:00

I signed up to support a friend's team in the Walk MS. I received the following e-mail with a list of ideas of way to raise awareness for the cause as part of MS Awareness Week next week.

Monday, March 2 - Open House at the MS Society Office at 4613 Fairfield Street in Metairie from 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. Come learn more about the events, programs and services that the Louisiana Chapter offers.

Wednesday, March 4 - MS Awareness Rally at the Louisiana State Capitol from 11 a.m. -1 p.m. Come out to witness MSAW Presentation, Proclamation and “Try On MS” and let yourself be seen and heard by our local legislators who can help with regulations and funding for MS research.

Wednesday, March 4 - MS Give Back Night at Chili’s. Dine at any Chili’s restaurant in the state and 10 percent of sales brought in will be donated back to the Louisiana Chapter. Click here for link to download the flyer, which must be presented for donation to be received.

Thursday, March 5 - MSAW Presentation, Proclamation and “Try On MS” at New Orleans City Council Meeting from 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. Constituents invited.

Thursday, March 5 - “Try on MS” at Lakeside Mall in Metairie from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Friday, March 6 - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs Hockey Team is hosting an MS Night. The game starts at 7:05 p.m. A limited number of free tickets are available while supplies last. For more information about tickets call the Chapter at 504-832-4013 (option 2) or 1-800-FIGHT-MS (800-344-4867).

Saturday, March 7 - Bayou MS Foundation 9th annual MS Health Fair at St. Martin’s Episcopal School in Metairie from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. This year’s fair will focus on MS and Family Relationships. The agenda includes presentations on Relationships, Children’s Roundtable Workshop, Stress Management, and YOGA Fest breathing and stretching techniques. Lunch time includes great food, live entertainment and time to visit numerous vendors for information and resources. A silent auction will take place as well as “Try On MS”, adding more excitement to the day's event.

Day 57: Give a little, get a little

2009-02-26T13:58:00.003-08:00

March 2 through March 8, Ann Taylor LOFT and Goodwill Industries invite you to donate your gently worn pants. In return, you'll receive $15 off a new pair.

To locate a store near you, click here.

Day 56: In lieu of sending flowers, plant a tree

2009-02-25T16:17:00.001-08:00

Every time I've lost a loved one, the funeral home has been flooded with flowers and plants from well-wishers. The flowers die quickly; the plants are a nicer thought because they last so long.

Taking that one step further, in lieu of flowers, why not consider planting a tree in honor of the deceased and sending a card that states your intention? It's a gift that will last beyond our lifetime.

Day 55: Walk for a cure

2009-02-24T15:50:00.002-08:00

Walk MS - Step by Step Closer to a Cure will be held April 4 at Audubon Park. Registration is free to participate, or you can become a "Virtual Walker," where you can raise funds online.

For more information, click here.

Day 54: Open a new e-mail account

2009-02-23T15:11:00.002-08:00

For every email you send, Care2 donates to the Environment and other good causes!

You can choose from the following domain names:
@animail.net
@moose-mail.com
@snail-mail.net
@whale-mail.com
@wildmail.com

This web-based service is free and comes with 5 GB of storage, spam filtering, spell checkers in 12 languages, a secure login option and more.

Five percent of all revenue generated by the Care2 service will be donated to charity. You can also send free E-cards (including musical ones!), and you can schedule cards months in advance so that you never forget an important occasion.

Click here to sign up.