Giving when there is nothing Left to Give

Many of us are going through hard times right now financially and it makes it hard to figure out how we can help others when there is nothing left at the end of the month.

It's easy to give when you have an abundance but when you are barely making ends meet, what do you do?

You get clever. So many of us have gotten use to throwing money at a problem and we relieve our guilt without much effort. Now we have no money and we don't know what to do.

I have listed below some ideas that I have come across. Please share any that you know of.

Offer to babysit, many people might not want to impose, so say...I'm not doing anything this Saturday night, how about if I babysit for you so you can just have some "you" time.

When you get a "buy one get one free" item throw the extra in a box. When the box is full take it to someone that is going through a rough time.

Get other people on the band wagon.

By including others I was able to collect over 2500 jars of peanut butter for Haiti. The picture shows "Mr. Amazing" loading them.


Last I knew the Lions Club collects old eye glasses for the needy.

Help out at the soup kitchen....they say that a lot of people will do this during the holidays but people are hungry all year.

Throw your extra change in a jar and give that money to a charity.

Instead of throwing out that one serving of dinner that was left over (and your family will never eat), take it to the widow lady down the street.

Whenever war broke out, my mom would tell us to rip our old sheets in strips so the soldiers could use them for bandages. I don't think they want our rags anymore but they would like a letter. An encouraging word only cost some time and a stamp.

I met a man at a garage sale that buys cd's and takes them to the VA hospital for the wounded soldiers.

There was a lady on the news that buys used Barbie dolls all year and fixes them up to give away at Christmas. Last year she gave over 600 Barbies to needy little girls.

My aunt, who is in her eighties, makes quilts out of old jeans to send to the soldiers. She now has people sending her their old jeans.

I heard about someone that collects used prom dresses and gives them to girls that can't afford one.

Lets all remember....From the day you are born, tell the day you ride in a hearse, there is never a day so bad but what it couldn't be worse....wisdom from my Grandpa.

So, no matter how bad you have it, someone out there has it a lot worse.

Lack of funds is no excuse. There are many ways that each of us can help.

I would love to hear what you have done to help someone else without braking the bank.