Now that the holidays are coming to an end, and the New Year is rapidly approaching, I've been left wondering what I could do to help the helpless. What I could do to make a difference for other people in 2012. I have a list of ideas, wishes, dreams to do good by others while bettering myself and opening my eyes to the world we live in, but none of them have seemed to pull me in like this, none have called my name and crept into my dreams quite the way this has. After watching the newly released documentary Super Hero's, seeing these men and women give their money, time, energy and most of all, passion to the community inspired me to give back myself.
A week ago, eating healthy and working out were my oh-so-original New Years resolutions...but not now. Now I would love to just make sure people in my community are eating, staying warm and know that they're cared about. That someone who they do not know has given them some hope by daring to spare time and a smile.
My mission is to start an organization called Dare to Spare: Packs of Promise, in and around the greater Portland Metropolitan area. I would love to start taking backpacks as donations and filling them with items such as: shampoo, conditioner, body soap, pads, deodorant, toilet paper, tooth brush/paste, a watch, condoms, dog food, dog treats, ace bandages, band aids, tylenol, socks, hats, gloves, top ramen, chili, water, some kind of fruit, a $5 gift card to McDonalds, a blanket, a myler emergency blanket (those silver shiny ones), hair brush, hair ties, one nice shirt and maybe a pair of pants so they can interview, a tarp, hand/foot warmers and zip lock bags to keep their belongings dry. If they have kids, I'd give them a pack with most of that, plus a coloring book, crayons, a few packs of fruit snacks, a stuffed animal, juice box, and some other kid friendly items. I will be packing the female toiletries and dog foods separately to make sure I have enough for the people who really need them.
