Africa Needs God Article

This article is a must read.  The article is written by an atheist writer whose last trip to Africa revealed to him that without the work of the missionaries and christian relief efforts Africa would be in a far worse place.  He also commented that the faith not only met their physical needs but also changed their hearts.  You can read the article HERE

40 coats and garbage bags

We were able to partner with two different organizations that will help distribute the clothes and coats that were donated.  We had around 40 coats donated and several huge garbage bags filled with clothes.  Hopes Children of Tuscaloosa and Star Ministries in Nashville have built some awesome relationships and are going to give the clothes and coats away to the people they have relationships with later this month.  

CLOTHES & COAT DRIVE IN DECEMBER

It is getting cold outside and there are many who do not have winter gear and coats to stay warm.  In the month of December we are going to show our love to those around us by giving clothes and coats.  In your local city their are probably coat drives going on that are already connected to a local group of people  in need - you can partner with them or start your own drive.

Many cities have shelters, thrift stores, or an agency that works with people to provide them physical needs.  

So here is what you do.  Open up your closets and drawers any item of clothing that you have not worn in a year you most likely do not need it anymore and you wouldn't notice if it were gone anyways.  So take that piece of clothing and put it in a bag and start connecting other people to do the same before you know it you will have a huge amount of clothes.

CANS UPON CANS

VERTIGO A STUDENT COMMUNITY AT THE CHURCH AT TUSCALOOSA BROUGHT IN OVER 400 POUNDS OF CAN GOODS AND FOODS FOR THE LOCAL FOOD BANK.  WHAT A BLESSING THAT WILL BE TO THOSE IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY THAT NEED THE RELIEF.  THE CONCEPT OF THE CAN DRIVE WAS TO LOOK AT OUR ABUNDANCE AND GIVE.  OUT OF OUR ABUNDANCE THAT WE HAVE IT IS EASY TO SPARE SOME AND GIVE TO THOSE IN NEED.  DURING THIS TIME OF THANKSGIVING IT IS EASY TO FORGET HOW GOOD WE HAVE IT.  

IF YOU HAVE SHELTER, FOOD, AND ADEQUATE CLOTHING YOU ARE IN THE TOP 25% OF THE WORLDS RICHEST PEOPLE.  I HAVE NEVER HAD TO WORRY A DAY IN MY LIFE ABOUT WHERE MY NEXT MEAL WITH COME FROM OR WHAT I AM GOING TO WEAR.  I AM BLESSED - I WANT TO BE A BLESSING.

Students Raise $450 in change.

Some local students collected change in the month of October and were able to raise $450 in loose change.  It was an amazing site to see student after student dump their cups of change in a collective jar.  That is a lot of coinage.  The proceeds went to Blood Water Mission.

OCTOBER = CAN GOODS!

Thanksgiving is upon us.  The holidays are a great time to enjoy friends and family and to think back upon the many blessings.  Some however are in a valley and it is hard to see the blessings when your cupboards are empty and celebrating is the farthest thing from your mind.  We want to give them a reason to celebrate and see that they are blessed.  Join with us in the month of October and early November and donate your non-perishables.

Put your CAN to action by giving can goods and non-perishables.  All you have to do is get a central collection spot for your group or friends - they drop it off - set a deadline - when the deadline is here take the food to your local food bank or family relief center.  

Spice it up by making it a competition - the grade, family or individual that donates the most gets _______ ?    

Time Article

I am a subscriber of TIME magazine.  This last issue had a great article on volunteering in America.  The article was filled with ideas on how to start serving in your local area and beyond. To read part of the article CLICK HERE

To keep reading the article click next at the bottom of the page.

Here is a snip it of the article:

"...research shows that 45% of Americans have considered a volunteer vacation, and 5 million households actually followed through with it in 2007.  Lasting from a day to a few weeks...Not everyone can devote a lifetime to service.  But few could argue that they can't spare a day.  On Sept 27, join the ServiceNation coalition by taking part in one of more than 1,600 service events planned across all 50 states.  And sign up to volunteer again next Jan. 19 for the King Day of Service, which takes place annually on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  To plan your participation, go online to events.servicenation.org or mlkday.gov.

We think about Christmas as being especially for kids.  as Dec 25 approaches, toy stores bustle and nonprofit programs for youth get a yuletide bump in volunteers and donations.  Operation Santa Claus programs at local churches drop off presents at inner-city elementary schools.  National church networks like the Prison Fellowship Ministries' Angel Tree program hand-deliver gifts to children in the name of their incarcerated parents.  Such initiatives deserve all the support they get, and more."

There is so much more article to read -  very encouraging that this movement is growing across the nation - young and old alike.

CHANGE FOR CHANGE

We were inspired by Zach Hunter  who started Loose Chains To Loosen Chains.  Zach is a modern day abolitionist who is devoting his life to set slaves free.  Read more about modern day slavery on Zach's site.  

Everyone has change laying around the house, in their cars, and most of us have walked by the penny's on the sidewalk.  Let's just say the average person acquires $10 in change a month.  Well we are banking that you will and do have that much change on hand - and so do the other people in your life.  In the next 4 weeks we want you to turn in your loose change to make a change.  Over the next month anytime you get change back from a transaction dump it in a jar.  At the end of the month bring in your change.  We also want you to encourage your friends and family to do the same.  Take the jar and go out and collect change as well.  

We are partnering with Blood Water Mission to turn our loose change into building a well for people that have no clean drinking water.  Get started today.

WATER STATS : :

According to the World Water Council, 1.1 billion people live without clean drinking water; 2.6 billion people lack adequate sanitation.  1.8 million people die every year from diarrheal diseases and 3,900 children die every day from water born diseases.

The Start Of It All

Movements have to start somewhere.  They begin with an idea.  A dream of change.  A passion burning deep down.  Movements aren't movements if action isn't taken.  If it just stays inside hearts & minds what good does it do.  DO LOVE is about combining the two worlds of ideals and action.  It doesn't take us long to see that world is in some rough shape.  The news is filled with wars, conflict, national disasters, genocide, dictators and on and on.  DO LOVE is about redeeming the good, reshaping the now, and laying the foundation for a better tomorrow.  We believe no act is too small.  Our goal is to inspire, encourage, and provide opportunities for you to DO LOVE with your life.  We believe that if you start with your local sphere of influence your eyes will be opened to the world and how you can join in and help change the world.  Join us and DO LOVE today!