Fighting Hunger Right Where You Live

It’s been such a privilege to have a part in the “Child Hunger Ends Here” campaign with ConAgra and Feeding America.  It’s encouraging to know that even my small role in this combined rally can change the hunger statics right where I live. That’s the thing I love about this effort – even a small contribution can make an impact! Did you know that $1 provides 7 Meals to your local community when you donate online? 

Yep, you read that correctly.  SEVEN.

Think about how even a $1 per neighbor/church member/classmate/PTA member donation could significantly impact your community.  Now think even bigger.. For instance if each person in my own town of around 20,000 made a $1 donation we could provide 140,000 meals! 

There’s no better time than the present.  With summer quickly approaching more kids in your very own community will struggle with hunger. The 19.5 million children receiving the free or reduced-price lunches significantly will drop to only 2.2 million receiving meals through the Summer Food Service Program. Remember, every dollar raised and donated online stays in your community to help those children in need.

(Keep reading how YOU can make an IMPACT today just by simply leaving a COMMENT.)

There have been many inspiring bloggers demonstrating examples of how you can get involved.  Hopefully their initiatives, ideas, creativity, and energy will inspire you to make a difference in your own community as well:

~ Judy from Dirt Road Musings held a “Taste of Italy” Pasta Dinner in her home town of Omaha, Nebraska,and a portion of the proceeds were donated to Feeding America.

~ Courtney from Detroit Mommies teamed up with a local restaurant that donated 5% of the invite’s tab from the food and drinks to the cause.

~ Laura from My DFW Mommy opened her own home and collected canned goods and donations from her neighbors.

~ Andrea from Savvy Sassy Moms hosted a neighborhood ice cream social in Los Angeles, California.

See? It doesn’t have to be elaborate or complicated to make a difference. You can find more ideas, resources and sign up for a FREE toolkit at the Child Hunger Ends Here site.

Now that you’re creative juices are bubbling and overflowing with ideas I want to hear them! 

And here’s the impact you can make with a simple comment:

For every comment, a donation of $1 will be made on behalf of our blog to Child Hunger Ends Here, up to $100. That means that 100 comments on this post could provide 700 MEALS for my local community! 

I’m not too proud to beg…

Will you leave me a comment telling me your ideas for how you could make an impact in your own community?

It’s that simple.

Pretty Please.

With Sugar On Top?

AND a Cherry?

 

Me. The Cows. And Haiti.

So I entered this essay contest that Stonyfield is holding for bloggers…

… Cuz I’m really interested in learning more about eating natural foods, finding out where our foods come from, passing the goodness along to my boys, and all.

… I’ve been even more inspired after watching this movie   and while growing our garden.

… Well, just so happens that I was chosen as a TOP TEN FINALIST!

If I’m voted into the Final 3, I’ll be invited to tour the farms and facilities of Stonyfield to learn more about the farmers dedicated to organic food production.

(Wish I could take these handsome little farmers along for the ride. Goodness, they’ve grown up since this picture!)

Here’s the real kicker…

If I make the Final 3 cut, I’ll receive $5,000 to give to Three Angels Children’s Relief in Haiti.  An organization that has impacted me personally, our church has supported, and my brother recently visited. In such a time of devastation and destruction in this country, $5,000 of American money can make a HUGE impact.  (They also have a great FB Page if you’d like to see more of how they are impacting through their medical clinic, school, and orphanage in Haiti.)

Voting is simple.  Like 30 seconds - Tops. (Your Name, Email, And Vote – Easy Cheesy!) And you can vote 1x a day with a valid email address up until May 25th.

So mosey on over HERE (www.stonyfield.com/barnstorming/) to vote, and I will be super grateful (and so will Three Angels Haiti)!

 Thanks in Advance, Sweet Friends!

 

 

Hope Blogs #WVinDR

Some of my dearest blogging friends are in the Dominican Republic right now with World Vision.  After watching a handful of Compassion Blogger trips and gleaning so much from their experiences, I’m excited to see World Vision taking the opportunity to reach the world through blogger’s hearts. The things that they are sharing from there are so captivating and so moving that I had to share a few with you…

This story of a mother named Maria’s love for Jesus and her hope for her four boys living in the slums of Santo Domingo touched my heart.
These questions are fresh on my mind this afternoon…
This glance into how World Vision is impacting a community helped me understand more.
These faces made me smile back at them….
These words caused me to pray….
This uniting of Jill with her sponsored child who she’s been supporting for 10 years brought tears to my eyes.

My brother’s recent trip to Haiti, the earthquake, and these blogger’s personal experiences, are giving me a greater love for this people group and for reaching the world for Christ.  How about you?
(I’ve closed the comments on this post so you can visit the links above and to consider how God might be leading you to respond.) 

This post is linked to Saturday Stumbles at It’s Come To This

March 4 Miracles Mega-Giveaway Winners!

Alright, before I list the winners of the March 4 Miracles Mega-Giveaway, I MUST give you all a HUGE VIRTUAL THANK YOU HUG!  You made my heart sing.  TOGETHER we raised over $2500 ($2538 to be exact) and I was tickled pink (or maybe purple for the March of Dimes color)!  I was so touched by your generosity and you all came together for such a great cause. 

Seriously, I have the best blog readers EVER!

And now to the winners!______________________________________________________

Prize #1

~ 3 SIGNED COPIES of the newly released I Will Carry You by Angie Smith

Goes to #9 Mindy Bullock, #45 PureJoy, and #91 Annette D

 

Prize #2

~ 1 AUTOGRAPHED Copy of “You Deliver Me” CD by the musical group Selah

Goes to #121 JD

 

Prize #3

~ A LOL Essentials Combo Pack by Mabel’s Labels

Goes to #115 Megryansmom

 

Prize #4

~ 1 Download of Alphabet Crafts ebook by No Time for Flash Cards

Goes to #48 Kristin

 

Prize #5

~ A Handmade Necklace of Your Choice from Lisa Leonard Designs

Goes to #77 Leftover Creator

 

Prize #6

~ A $40 Gift Card to Back40Life, Handcrafted Signs and Wall Decals

Goes to #111 Mandi @It’s Come2this

 

Prize #7

~ A T-shirt or Onesie of Your Choice from Designed for Babies

Goes to #10 Bargain Briana

 

Prize #8

~ A Jesus Storybook Bible Deluxe Edition from ZonderKidz

Goes to #105 KT

AND…..

Prize #9

The HP Mini 110-1020NR 10.1-Inch Netbook from us =)

Goes to #32 Kate (Insert SCREAM!) 

I called her this morning and her quote was, “SHUT. YOUR. FACE!” Then she screamed, and then she texted me a picture of her broke laptop.  (Needless to say, I think she’s going to accept the prize.)

______________________________________________________________________________

If you are a winner please contact me via email (quatro_mama {at} yahoo {dot} com) with the subject line WINNER plus your name, address, and phone number (for shipping tracking) and we’ll work on hooking you up! 

Again a HUGE thanks to those who donated the prizes!  You made this giveaway so much more than I could have hoped for!  xoxo

I would encourage you all to check out their fine offerings if you’re not a winner.  I’m head over heals for these items!  You can follow them on twitter as well (@designed4babies, @lisaleonard, @NoFlashCards, @back40life, @JSBBible @mabelhood @selahonline, @angelac519)!

Thank you for being a blessing!

 

How Will You Fight Childhood Hunger?

As one of the bloggers teaming up with ConAgra Foods to help end child hunger, we’ve been encouraging people across the nation to rally together to make an impact in our communities.  You can follow @conagrafoods on Twitter or ConAgra’s Facebook Page for the latest updates. So far, the efforts have been encouraging, but there’s still lots that we can do right where we live.

Think hunger isn’t an issue in your community?  Think again.  Hunger lives in every state, town, school, and most likely your very own neighborhood.

But here’s the good news, making a difference doesn’t require a grand production or a large sum of money.  It’s things you probably are already involved doing in your community: setting up a lemonade stand with the neighborhood kids, throwing a garage sale with the things you’re no longer using, or pitching in as a neighborhood/school/church to collect foods. You can register your rally at Child Hunger Ends Here and they will send you a rally kit that includes a banner, posters, coupons to share, and a rally guide.  Then, donate a portion of your earnings online, and your efforts will go back to your very own community. 

My sweet friend, Danielle from Extraordinary Mommy is one of the 14 bloggers in 14 different cities hosting neighborhood rallies for Child Hunger Ends Here. She’s hosting “Lemonade Stand Saturdays” to impact her local community in Missouri.  Another blogging friend, Andrea from Mommy Snacks, is offering a coupon workshop to help raise money. Others have participated in House Party events to raise awareness.

Several celebrities are also getting behind this campaign with a neighborhood rally held on Wisteria Lane. There’s also a Celebrity Auction being held to benefit Feeding America. 

So how will YOU get involved personally? 

I’m working out a few details of my own (coming soon), but I’d love to hear your own! 

~ How will you respond to the “1 in Every 4 Kids in America Struggle with Hunger” statistic?

~ Were you aware that childhood hunger was such a serious issue in America?

~ Have you or someone you’re close to experienced hunger as a child?

~ Have you heard of the “Clothes Off Our Back” organization? It’s another great way you can get involved.

*This post is a sponsored opportunity via ConAgra Foods. My enthusiasm and heart behind this initiative are my own.

A Walk to Remember…

We walked.

We spoke.

We celebrated.

We remembered.

We honored…

We got soaked.

There’s still time to GIVE!!!! (And there’s so many great THANK YOU prizes! Including Signed books from Angie Smith, a HP Mini Netbook, Home Decor, Custom Jewelry, Apparel, Music and more!) Our donations are up to $2300!!! (Less than $700 from our goal) Absolutely INCREDIBLE! So blessed and honored to call you friends!  I really believe we can make it happen! Spread the word and enter so you can WIN!

 

Fox59 Morning News LIVE

Wow.  Live TV is TOUGH!  One second you are getting a mic clipped on and the next second you are LIVE. We take it for granted how much work it is when people like @AngelaGanote make it look so natural and easy!

(You can click the full screen option to make it larger…)

 

I was so pleased with how well the boys responded on camera. You never know what you are going to get with four 3 year olds, but they were captivated by seeing themselves on the live feed screen and bribed motivated by an ice cream date after the show. =)

Waiting for our air time…

 

Hanging out in the Green Room… (Brooks and Clark look so much alike in this picture!)

 

Seconds from going live…

And we’re ON!

Thanks to the March of Dimes for giving us an opportunity to share our story and highlight why this walk is so meaningful to our family!

There’s still time to enter in the March 4 Miracles Mega-Giveaway here on 4tunate.  Can you help us spread the word and meet our goal?  Nearly 2K raised with 1K left to go!  I think we can meet it, don’t you?

We’d be thrilled to have you walk along with us on Sunday as well!  (Let me know if you are planning on walking and I can hook you up with a 4tunate Team Shirt.)

It warms my heart to see us all coming together to GIVE to a truly LIFE CHANGING organization!

March for Babies: Who Will You Celebrate? Who Will You Honor?

We’ve mentioned in previous March of Dimes posts that we will be walking to celebrate the lives of our four miracles: Henry, Brooks, Clark, and Isaac. Fragile lives born 2 months early, who benefited greatly from the diligent research efforts of the March of Dimes organization. 

However, we also walk to honor the lives of those who we never had the opportunity to meet.  Small lives that made a lasting impact upon our lives and so many others.

We’ll walk to honor…

The lives of Isella and Daniel who were each born after healthy and uneventful pregnancies but lost their lives due to birth defects. 

Sweet Audrey Caroline who’s few hours on this earth have touched the lives of thousands across the globe.

The 5 brothers and sisters of Sylas Morrison: Lucia, Bennet, Tryg, Lincoln and Cadence who lost their battle with prematurity just after our boys were born.

For our fellow quad families: The Sathers, The Klopps, and The Greens who have each suffered the loss of losing their very own flesh and blood.

The vibrant life of Maddie Spohr who survived over 60 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, but unexpectantly left us before she celebrated her 2nd birthday.

The Spohr’s are also an Ambassador Family for the March of Dimes.  Their efforts to honor Maddie’s life by saving others have been astounding.  Last year their family team raised over 100 Thousand Dollars in support of the March of Dimes.  Here’s more about Maddie’s life and their mission:

We’re walking to honor her life and so many others.

We’re fighting for the lives who have been saved, and those lost.  We’re fighting to make a difference. We’re fighting for HOPE.

So how can you help us celebrate and honor these lives?

You can join us THIS SUNDAY downtown Indy on the Canal to March for Babies.

You can donate.  $1 can make a difference!  Did you know that if each person TODAY who visits our blog donated ONE DOLLAR we could meet our goal of $3,000? 

If you donate or have donated (even just $1) you will be included in our Marching for Miracles Mega-Giveaway!  There’s so many great prizes that I can’t wait to share with you!!!

I will be drawing for each prize next Monday (4/26).  Thank you so much for those to all of you donating your own products in support of this cause.

Are you ready?  Brace yourselves. 

~ 3 SIGNED COPIES of the newly released I Will Carry You by Angie Smith  (Mama of Audrey Caroline and wife of Todd Smith of Selah)

~ 1 AUTOGRAPHED Copy of “You Deliver Me” CD by the musical group Selah

 

~ A LOL Essentials Combo Pack by Mabel’s Labels (includes 30 Sticky Labels, 12 Shoe Labels, 70 Tag Mates^TM or 40 Iron-Ons, 2 Teeny Tags^TM. Dishwasher/microwave-safe and UV resistant. Clothing labels are laundry safe.)

~ 1 Download of Alphabet Crafts ebook by No Time for Flash Cards

~ A Handmade Necklace of Your Choice from Lisa Leonard Designs 

~ A $40 Gift Card to Back40Life, Handcrafted Signs and Wall Decals

A T-shirt or Onesie of Your Choice from Designed for Babies

 

A Jesus Storybook Bible Deluxe Edition from ZonderKidz

 

AND….

(Insert Drum Roll)

We are personally donating a

HP Mini 110-1020NR 10.1-Inch Netbook 

to add to the hype.  We think our investment will be well worth it as you in return donate to The March of Dimes! Prove us to be correct!!!!

So how do you enter? 

Donate a minimum of $1 to our March of Dimes Family Page and leave a comment here to let me know you’re supporting our cause. (If you have already donated I have added your name already.)

An additional entry can be credited by tweeting:
“I'm fighting 4 babies w/ March of Dimes & entering @QuatroMama ‘s March 4 Miracles Mega-Giveaway at http://bit.ly/aRq4ce” and leaving a link to your twitter account.

Spread the Word!  The March for Miracles Mega-Giveaway ends next Monday! 

Child Hunger Ends Here

My definition of “hunger” is so skewed. Seriously.  For me “hunger” is what I experience about 2 hours after a full meal.  I have no real concept of food depravity.

Unfortunately, the same is not true for nearly 17 million children in the UNITED STATES that are not getting enough food to live active, healthy lives. That’s correct – not third world countries, the U-S-A. One in four kids who don’t know where their next meal is coming from, right in our own back yards.

Perhaps its your son’s playmate down the street, maybe it’s the sandy blonde little toddler in your church nursery, or the little girl waiting in the chair next to you at the doctor’s office.  Odds are you are in regular contact with the hungry.

I’m embarrassed to admit that often my first instinct when faced with an issue so vast is to turn my head. After all, how could I make a difference in a devastated population? It’s honestly difficult for me to wrap my mind around that children in our own communities are suffering.

That’s why this spring, ConAgra Foods is encouraging people across the country to rally together to help end child hunger. I will be teaming up with ConAgra Foods and several other bloggers in the next few weeks to demonstrate some ways we can make an impact in our own communities.(Your probably familiar with ConAgra Food’s top brands like Healthy Choice, Chef Boyardee, Manwhich, Marie Callender’s, Orville Redenbacher’s, Peter Pan Peanut Butter, and Banquet.) I love when corporations reach out to their consumers and get them involved in their efforts!

In partnership with Feeding America, the nation’s leading hunger-relief organization,
ConAgra Foods is launching its Child Hunger Ends Here Neighborhood Rally
campaign. Activities such as bake sales, rummage sales, food drives, school carnivals,
neighborhood picnics or other existing community events can become a Child Hunger Ends Here Neighborhood Rally, simply by donating a portion or all of the proceeds from
the event to Feeding America, which has a network of more than 200 food banks
across the nation. Money raised and food collected locally and donated online will stay in that local community. (Love that!)

So what can you do right now to help fight child hunger in your home town?

~ Check out Child Hunger Ends Here and find the tools and resources to participate in a Neighborhood Rally. 

~ Spread the word. Share this post with your friends on Twitter and Facebook.

~ Tweet the following message: “Help the Child Hunger Ends Here campaign. Each RT Donates $1 towards #fightchildhunger in @quatromama ‘s name! http://bit.ly/aW2vdd”

~ Consider a small donation of towards this cause. (100 pennies could make a world of difference if we all work together.)

~ Share with us how YOU are confronting this issue?  How are you going to make a difference where you live?

_________________________________________________________________________________

Let’s quit turning our heads to this reality in America and together start making a difference in the lives of those struggling with hunger!

 

*This post is a sponsored opportunity via ConAgra Foods. My enthusiasm and heart behind this initiative are my own.