After my Consciously Frugal post I've been thinking about ways I can 'make a difference' for others in our world that have less than many.
I am more aware of the disparity in the world, as I scan the news this past week. What makes it more keen for me these past few weeks, is how icy cold it's been. I have a house. So many have not, and I've felt the cold more sharply this year. So I've been thinking how can I make a difference and have been dreaming of taking food or blankets to the homeless in Sydney.
I felt very heartened this morning when I read this article about how pre-loved leather jackets were donated to Sydney homeless.
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| Click on photo for photo source. |
Wow!
I must admit though, I'm a bit of a chicken when it comes to doing stuff like this on my own. So I'm wracking my brain as to how I can become involved in something similar.
Last year a friend caught the train into Sydney and bought a heap of cheese burgers and handed them out to the homeless. How brave of her. Perhaps I can do something the same with all the blankets I have stock-piled in my linen cupboards.
In the meantime...I am doing my little bit (while sitting in the comfort of my warm home and still feeling guilty) by purchasing these...(and I swear, no sooner had I sat down to write this post that a cheery lady drove up my drive to deliver them! Talk about synchronicity!)
Who Give A Crap (yes really) is an organisation that donates 50% of its profits to WaterAid to build toilets and improve sanitation in the developing world.
Read more about WGAC* here.
The toilet rolls are individually wrapped in paper, not plastic and their facebook page encourages devotees to post ideas of how the wrapping is reused.
I especially love the emergency rolls which come in red wrapping and instructions.
I'm certainly not one to need emergency rolls...I'm too anxious to allow my household to get to that point in toilet paper stocks so I love gifting these to people who have just moved into a new home and may be having trouble locating a roll of toilet paper. Mostly, they have been appreciated - because they couldn't find their rolls of toilet paper.
In the meantime, I summing up enough courage to become more directly involved in helping those closer to home.
*No, I haven't received anything from WGAC, just doing my bit to assist a good cause by promoting them.
Love the work WGAC does - and with a sense of humour as well! I too am very conscious of and concerned about the terrible disparity that exists. And I feel it will only get worse in the future. It is hard to know where you can make a difference and easy to feel disheartened about it all. I hope you let us know what you come up with!
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by Jayne, hope you're feeling a little better. Yes, it's sad isn't it...now I've read that the housing bubble is a factor in the increase in homelessness in Sydney.
DeleteBrilliant idea to give a pretty "loo roll" to people moving into new homes. I like the way your friend gave food to the homeless. We often have people begging in our town with dogs, so I buy a bag of biscuits for their dog.
ReplyDeleteWe can always think of ways to help, however small. What a great idea about the leather jackets! nice and warm in cold weather and when folded, make a head rest or something to sit on.
I'm off to my "op" today, so I'll catch up with you again soon x