Want to help our own first? Here are some ideas!

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Want to help those in the USA before you help others?  Well, remember if you say that you SHOULD be helping.  If you need some ideas, here are a few:

1.  Call a soup kitchen and ask what they need.  Buy it, then stay to help serve a meal.

2.  Take an elderly neighbor who is struggling to make ends grocery shopping.  Give them a gift certificate to the store you are taking them to so they can purchase what they need.

3.  Leave a Thanksgiving basket on a family's doorstep who might not be able to afford a turkey otherwise.


4.  Foster / adopt a child from foster care.  If you aren't able or willing to do this, support someone who is.  There are things that are needed to get the houses up to code, so even being willing to help with painting a room might help them.  Or buy them some things they need -- for instance if they have a foster child on a second floor of a house, they are required to have a fire escape ladder. Perhaps give them hand me downs from your own children instead of selling them on eBay.

5.  Invite a homeless person to have coffee with you.

6.  Tutor children who live in poverty who are struggling in school.

7.  Buy a bunch of gloves, hats, etc. and distribute them to the homeless.  If you can knit or crochet you could make them.

8.  Adopt a grandparent at a local nursing home.  Staff can help you find one who doesn't get visitors.  Invite them into your home at holidays.

9.  Help someone less fortunate with home repairs.

10.  Offer to shovel snow for someone who can't all winter long.

These are just a few ideas.  Come up with your own.  If you are saying we should help our own first, please be doing your part.

I finished my classes to foster / adopt last night.  I've done most of the above.  Step outside your comfort zone and make the world a better place.  Don't rely on our government to help, we all need to play a part.

If you don't mind helping others from another country, get involved with a local group that helps sponsor refugees.  Your old chair may become their prized possession.

But please, DO SOMETHING!