Delivery

Post Cookie Swap, Lydia, Tram, Vi and I got to enjoy the best part of the event - we delivered over 20 dozen cookies to Loaves & Fishes and the Portland Rescue Mission yesterday, along with nearly 20 pounds of coats from Tram's coat drive! We met some of the people who would be receiving our donations and they thoroughly expressed their gratitude (not that we needed it but of course we appreciated it) and it was very heart warming!

We also volunteered at the MacDonald Center that day, acting as Santa's helpers, delivering requested gifts to less fortunate residents of the Old Town area.


My friend Vi (2nd from left above) is actually the one who motivated me to start volunteering! She works full-time, enjoys fine wine, wears Louboutin shoes, but yet she still finds time to regularly contribute and volunteer at the Oregon Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity and Kiva - a micro lending program which helps people in third world countries start small businesses!

With the current economic climate, it's understandable that we hesitate to give monetary donations when we feel "in need" ourselves, but you would be surprised at how such little can affect a lot! Kiva has loan options that start as low as $25. You choose the person / country you want to loan your money to and they pay you back within six to 12 months (with interest)! $25!!! Five venti Starbucks can help a person work towards gaining more economic independence and improve their lives!

Now if you really feel like you can't spare the extra cash or would rather contribute locally, you can still volunteer your time. Don't know how that will add up? According to the Portland Monthly, even though total cash donations in Oregon shrank by 23 percent over 2009, the number of individual contributions grew by nearly 18 percent. Volunteer hours rose to 93,000 - the equivalent of 45 full-time employees and $1.5 million in salaries!

So instead of sitting around drinking, watching a movie or going to the the mall this weekend and getting drunk, fat or spending money you're not suppose to be spending, grab a few friends to donate a few hours at a cause you believe in! You can really spend quality time with them and afterwards, even grab a cup of coffee to talk about how warm and fuzzy you feel!