It's great that some of us are buying Toms, talking about shoe drops, walking with Hanson, donating on takethewalk.net, etc.  I've found a way to use my business to contribute, and now I'm thinking locally.

What are you doing locally?  I would love to know in what ways you are helping people in your own community.

I have not been able to do very much to support aids. I'm 16 and am not able to buy Toms and have not been able to take the walk yet. I feel like a bad person sometimes because I know aids is such a serious problem. I give donations whenever I can, but that's about all.

I collect money for the Crusade for Children. It gives money to help buy equipment for children with cancer. I probably do a lot more with cancer charities than with anything else because it is something that is so close to my heart. My brother died from cancer, so I feel like it's kinda my duty to do something to help.

I am organizing a coat drive. 

It's the first stages of getting going, but it's definitely happening.

I work for a company called Seeking Sitters (It's a professional baby sitting company) and I work with about 75 other girls and after talking with a few of the sitters if they would be willing to help out with it I asked my boss if she would be willing to help me get the company involved in it. I got the green light to go through with it on Thursday. 

What we are doing is collecting coats from anyone who is willing to give them, and then we are going to donate them to a local agency (We haven't decided which organization to give them to yet...but I'm hoping we will collect enough to possibly give to a few different organizations)  

If anyone else is interested in organizing their own coat drive, go to www.onewarmhug.org for more information.  

It's unrelated to aids buttt............

I organized a teddy bear drive this past April to donate new and 'gently loved' teddy bears to the local women's shelter for the kids there. My sorority's philanthropy is Prevent Child Abuse America, or PCAA. The people at the shelter were thrilled when they realized we had gathered up bags.... and bags.... and BAGS of bears. I just received the thank you note from them yesterday actually...

I teach CCD classes at my Church and last year got the students involved in the Church-sponsored food drive for our community.

This year I'm going to introduce the causes Hanson is supporting and explain to the children (after I get permission to do this) about other children half-way round the world.  Haven't figured out exactly *how* to present this to the kids or what I'm going to ask them to do - I'll probably let them tell me what they want to do - but I'd like to share the spirit of giving and making a difference with them in this way.

One thing I think I will do is share the TTW book with them during a class if I think it's applicable.

My kids are 3rd graders (ages 8-9).  I'll keep you posted.  :)

My university is having an AIDS Day Art Exhibition and I'm creating some original artwork as well as offering a short film I created of my recent trip to Swaziland along with photographs.  The art will be sold for various charities, to be decided. 

That sounds wonderful and thanks for sharing.

Working within the confines of the Church (Catholic) might be tough and I have to speak to my favorite Priest and the parents and all of that - but am willing.  It would be easy for me to incorporate the 'lesson' into our studies considering we discuss life, death, charity and all that fun stuff.  The TTW book I will use to show them pictures of what's happening with this cause.  Not having seen the book yet, am hoping it will also cite the successes that have happened and are happening still.

I'm thinking since I have the entire school year I shall introduce the subject(s) slowly probably focusing on the poverty side of it since the children are young and hopefully lead up to a Walk that the children sponsor.  This way they learn about the problem and are able to 'lead' people into action.  If allowed we would request $1.00/walker, the children already having donated theirs.

We (or I guess the Church & we) would pledge all the monies received - here at Takethewalk.net of course.  I would let the children decide which of the 5 causes or combo thereof to support.  :)

I have done a lot of things

- I always donate my clothes to homeless shelters etc.. People put yellow bags on the curb in front of my house. I also donate food to them.

- I am going to donate to toys for tots for christmas.

- I have donate 5 bucks to sms credits on takethewalk.net

I think they should have a give back to the community section on hanson notes.

I love reading all of the things you guys are doing!  I've been talking to my kids, mainly my 5-year-old son, about all of the people around the world who need help with so many different things.  My goal is to find a different way for them (us) to help every month from here on out.  It might be to come with me and help stock the pantry at a place here called The Hope Center, or it might be to make and sell something to raise money for something.  Maybe we can plan to sponsor our own walk sometime next year.  I'm borrowing a book from the library today called Raising Unselfish Children in a Self-Asborbed World that I'm hoping will give me even more ideas.

Keep replying with what you're doing, guys! 

I've bought like 15 pairs of Toms, also have gotten lots of people at school aware of that organization.  (Feed bags too)

Also, not so locally, I'll be volunteering in South Africa next summer and talking about that with friends at school has started to help getting people aware of everything

But again, its not awareness that we need, its action!

Its awesome reading about how much people truly care, and what they are willing to do!

=] 

I'm involved on the ground level with a choir from Tanzania who will be touring eastern MA and raising money for their water project in their village.

http://sph.bu.edu/otlt/tz/

bumping this up. Every time I buy something from my work. I make sure I donate a $1 to toys for tots. Come on people do things for other people.

i work at mac cosmetics and ALWAYS try to get people to buy our viva glam lipstick or lipgloss. every time someone buys one, ALL of the proceeds go straight to the mac aids fund which, in turn, goes to a man, woman, or child living with hiv or aids.

the viva glam campain has raised over 100 MILLION dollars. it is an amazing program. go buy some viva glam.

when i go back to work i am going buy some books for toys for tots.

when i go back to work i am going buy some books for toys for tots.