I'm always reading things about bettering the environment, taking care of the homeless, things like that. Most suggestions about 'what can I do to help?' involve either money or volunteering. So I'm starting this blog as a suggestion-box of sorts. Ideas of things one person can do, easily and painlessly. Charity doesn't always mean giving something up, and environmentalism doesn't always take money.
#1 - Clean Drinking Water for the Homeless
I've got two major problems with volunteering and donating to causes. I'm broke and... I'm not a people person. The thought of working all day in a food kitchen is not appealing to me at all. I've never had a job in the food service industry, I've never wanted one, and most nights it's a struggle to cook dinner for myself, my husband & the dog, let alone busting my ass to feed the huddled masses.
So, what can I, as one person do? Something that doesn't involve me donating fundage or a warm body? Seeing a hitch-hiker on the road today gave me an idea (not picking him up, though - hitch-hiking is risky business, whether you're the hitcher or the picker-upper). I'm going to start carrying extra bottled water in the car this year. That way, when my husband are out & about, & I see homeless folks & day laborers around town, I can offer them something practical.
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Ophidia started a blog post What Can One Person Do?What Can One Person Do?
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#2Dez commentedEditing a commentI really like that idea Perzephone. I think I'll implement it myself.
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#3thalassa commentedEditing a commentI like this...I think its a great idea.
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#4verlignus commentedEditing a commentMy husband (says, me, the femme of this online entity) is fond of saying you affect the world around you in small amounts and branch out if you can, creating ripples. There is a woman who hangs out at Starbucks on NW Expressway who has a severe case of schizophrenia. She is non-combative, but off-putting to most people because of her shall we say, quirks? When I see her, I smile at her, looking her in the eyes, say good morning or good afternoon. Then I tell her I am going to the counter to get myself a coffee. Would she like anything while I am there? I had to laugh at myself when she said, "Yes, I would like a Venti Mocha Chocolatte with extra whip cream and a shot of espresso." I asked, she told me I thought, so I got it for her. Let's face it, it was probably a treat. She doesn't panhandle, I asked her what she wanted. I threw in a donut in two different flavors. She was very appreciative and that was my last few dollars of spending money for the day. She said thank you and have a nice afternoon and I smiled and said see you around. We both had a smile. I don't look like I have a lot of money and I see her there often when I have only a few quid in my pocket for errands, but she smiles and I smile and we go on. She has never asked me for anything. The things we do for the environment? We don't use pesticides, we recycle/mulch/compost as much as possible in a city surrounding, we recycle cardboard from our retail business, etc. We don't throw toxins in the trash and so on. Best to you. Good luck.
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