Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Christmas Challenge: help me help others

My sister pointed out that I have not posted at all this week.  I guess that's true, if you don't count Sunday as a part of this week.  I'm having a hard time getting motivated to do much of anything lately.  I haven't even tried to get the kids into a picture for Christmas cards.  If you are expecting a Christmas card this year you might be sorely disappointed.

Since I can't seem to get going, I've decided to make you do the work.  Its Christmas, damnit.  So here's a challenge for you, invisible internet friends.  For each comment on this post, I will donate $1 to Feeding America AND to The Center For Family Services.

Food and families are the two areas I tend to focus my charitable donations on.  Feeding America produces 8 meals with every $1 you donate.  As of 2010, more than 1 million people in New Jersey live in food-insecure households.  Forty-two percent of that number are children 18 and under.  I should make an eloquent plea here, but like I said, I'm all out of ammo lately, so--hungry kids is just not right, and you can help me do something about it.

The Center for Family Services is a great charity in the southern NJ area that helps families get back on their feet, be it through job training, rehab services or foster care. I like the family focus that they have; it doesn't matter how much money you throw at children's services, if the family they live in is unstable and unable to support them, the kids will be at risk.  There are a number of children at their shelters every year at Christmas who do not have family available to buy them gifts, or buy them basic necessities.  The kids who are at the shelter write down their Christmas requests, and their lists are sometimes heartbreaking--last year the overwhelming requests were for underwear and toiletries.  If you are an 11 year old kid and someone is going to buy you a gift, you should be asking for the latest ridiculously overpriced toy, not clean underwear.    

There's 49 of you following this blog, if everyone leaves a comment that's nearly $50 to each charity.  Tell your friends, tell your neighbors, link back if you want to.  There's no "tweet this, be a follower, yadda yadda"...just leave a comment (just one per person). Say hi.  Tell me your favorite kind of cheese, or what state you live in, or how you found my blog, or just say Happy Holidays.

I'll keep comments on this post open for one week, till December 15.  If I hit 100 comments, I'll add another $100 to each charity.

Help!

37 comments:

  1. This is so cool. I hope your comments go through the roof!!

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  2. What a wonderful way to raise money and awareness!!

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  3. What a great idea. Merry Christmas!

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  4. I think this is fantastic! No child should have to ask for underwear for Christmas ... Thank you for helping!

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  5. Hi...I love Gouda Cheese and live in North Carolina!

    Happy Holidays y'all!

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  6. Oh...and it's such a nice thing for you to do this and make us do all the work!

    I commented twice...is that 2$?

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  7. merry christmas, i love you :)

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  8. great idea!!!! -sarah

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  9. I love brie cheese, Italian wine and your blog. I also live in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

    Happy Holidays to you and yours!
    ~marcia

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  10. What a wonderful and sweet idea! I love your blog and your gorgeous house!

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  11. I love muenster and havarti cheese. Yum. And I love you :)

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  12. I like camembert, and I live in Minnesota.

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  13. Happy Holidays to you and bless you for being so generous. I hope you reach 100 comments and more.

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  14. What an AWESOME action! I am powerless to resist Gruyere, I live in Washington, DC, and I found your blog through the magic of Twitter.

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  15. I love 7-year cheddar from Grafton cheese. OMg. And I live in California.

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  16. Great idea!

    Enjoy the holidays with your little ones!

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  17. I went to see Santa with some friends last weekend. The kid asked Santa for everyone to get what they want for Christmas and the mom asked that nobody go hungry for Christmas. Thanks for helping her wish come true.

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  18. Love this idea! And I love just about any cheese, but goat Gouda is a fun one that not everyone knows about!

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  19. I hope you get tons of comments!

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  20. This is a great idea! I was feeling like I shouldn't adopt a family from the angel tree this year to save some money, but you've inspired me to change my mind. Thank you.

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  21. Rock on from a jersey girl now on the plains

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  22. Awesome, Lisa. Great idea. Sara O.

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  23. Fabulous idea Lisa!
    Lets' see... I had this fabulous cheese this week- I think it was a raw milk gruyere reserve- SO tasty!

    Happy holidays to you and your beautiful family!

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  24. This seems like a good opportunity to say that I really like reading your blog! I forget how I stumbled upon it, but I'm glad I did because your posts and pictures give me motivation to finally finish decorating my house.

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  25. Ok Lisa.You win!! I love your idea, your blog and you! (though not necessarily in that order!)
    Love, Grandmom (by the way, I haven't tasted it yet, but I think gruyere cheese is supposed to be good since it's listed in a lot of recipes..until I taste gruyere my favorite is muenster. I live in southern New Jersey (but you already know that) and you and your lovely family are welcome anytime!

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  26. One more dollar!

    Great idea!

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  27. This is wonderful, and you've reminded me I need to also look into giving more in this season.

    In other news, I hope you're doing okay; you sound a bit worn in your opening paragraph. Take care of yourself, and hope your month is going well!

    ~Carolyn

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  28. What a sweet idea. Happy Holidays to you and your family.

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  29. What a great idea! My husband is from Jersey too but we now live in Milwaukee.

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  30. What a fabulous, generous idea! My memory is failing me likely about stuff like this, but I'll try to remember to link to this in a post next week. Happy holidays!

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  31. What a wonderful and generous idea! I'm a big fan of goat cheese and I live in Texas. Thanks for doing this!

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  32. Great Idea Lisa! ...I just had to post my comment before the deadline!

    Love, June

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  33. Lisa

    A great idea and a great blog.

    Kathy

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Yay! You're commenting! I love comments!