Days 51 -- Treats-4-Troops set up and final steps for collection

"By mutual confidence and mutual aid, great deeds are done and great discoveries made."
---Homer

Today and tomorrow are big days for Treats-4-Troops collection. Today was getting all the ducks in a row and tomorrow is the big collection at the local high schools. So hard to have any idea what amount of candy will be donated but hopefully lots.

My husband Rick just sent me an article about the person who had the idea to start collecting Unicef. He was a Presbyterian minister named Clyde Allison, and lived in Pennsylvania. The first Unifcef collection in 1950 yielded about $100,000? This year, the Unicef Halloween program is expected to yield about $4 million, with some collection taking place even over the Internet!

Allison's line of thinking was similar to ours for T-4-T, namely make it an occasion for kids to be inspired to think about helping other people, not just raking in a ton of candy for themselves. I had the feeling that we accomplished that goal the other day, when I was talking to my neighbor's daughter and she said she'd bring two bags of candy on her route: one to collect for herself and one for the troops! And surprisingly, my youngest daughter forked over about half her loot when she got home, saying "that's all for the troops."

So we'll see what happens as of tomorrow. WTOP is running a spot about the project all morning (once an hour) and a couple of other radio stations have info on their websites. Stay tuned - I'll keep you posted. Meanwhile, hope you had a fun Halloween and got to enjoy at least a bit of candy -- I couldn't resist my favorites: Junior Mints an Almond Joys!

Day 50 -- Helping at school Halloween party

"Kids are always the only future the human race has."
---William Saroyan

Well today is an important milestone for this blog --it's day 50 so I'm officially halfway through my volunteering challenge. Hurray! Feels like a regular part of my routine by now...but hope I'm not boring readers with too much repetition. I'll continue with the daily quotes, assuming I can keep finding good ones, and will try to sprinkle new info into each entry.

Today was the Halloween parade and party at the Elementary school. Fortunately, my daughter, who was sick earlier in the week, was fine to go today (actually with a bit of a cold, but that's ok, right?). And it's a good thing she was better, since missing this event is like an adult missing a really special event like a movie opening night, or like giving up NFL, NHL, or NBA club level tickets, or something equivalent. I would have been hearing about it all year if she didn't get to go.

The day of Halloween festivities is a HUGE day for the kids, since they get to march around the school driveway and have candy and games in class. They just seem to love it, so of course it was a pleasure being there to witness all that. All I had to do was clean up, and with paper plates and juice boxes that was a breeze. Really, the teachers at this school are amazing, as are the kids. Such an energetic place to be, though with all the sugar in these kids today I'm sure it was probably a bit more supercharged than usual. Still, you forget how much energy these kids have till you spend time around so many of them at once. It's fantastic!

Day 49 -- Helping at KEEN auction

"It's kind of fun to do the impossible."
---Walt Disney

Tonight I helped out at the Kids Enjoy Exercise Now (KEEN) annual dinner and auction. What the founders of this group seem to have done is create an amazingly successful organization that serves so many kids with varying disabilities. KEEN provides these kids with a way to enjoy fitness and to build friendships. I have great admiration for the group and for everyone who works there.

The event was in a big ballroom at a Marriott Conference Center. Tons of well-dressed people and some really cool auction items, especially those relating to sports, home, hobbies, and travel. I didn't win anything but enjoyed just browsing.

My official role, together with another MoverMom Suja Ali, was to help carry items from the auction tables to the table where everything was being tallied and put away. It was not hard but rather fun to do it together, to see people coming together for such a good cause, and to observe the whole scene. Somehow I just have never acquired the right wardrobe for this kind of event, especially now that Suja pointed out to me several women with different fishnet stockings (she said those are now in style). Maybe I should buy a pair??

Day 48 - Treats for Troops continued

"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal."
---Henry Ford

Still another day with a child home sick, but I had plenty to do on Treats-4-Troops. Painted a couple of signs, sent our more messages, tried to arrange which vehicle to use for candy delivery to West Virginia, and more. This isn't an intellectually challenging project so much as an organizational and logistical one. It's been wonderful to have interest in this project from companies such as Wells Fargo and schools as far away as in New Jersey, but tricky to make it possible for everyone to get their candy here in time for delivery to Wheeling.

Overall though, it's really a fun undertaking because so many people share the desire to do something with the candy other than eat it, and they seem so willing and eager to donate it to a good cause.

Day 47 -- More work on Treats-4-Troops

"It's plain hard work that does it."
---Thomas Edison

My youngest daughter was home sick today so I worked from home on the Treats-4-Troops candy collection project. Hard to believe that this whole thing started on a whim, two years ago when I was trying to think of what to do with extra candy. But much more than one person's idea, this whole effort is a shining example of the greater power of working together on community projects compared with working alone. People have been spreading the message via the Internet (I guess the power of that is proven here too!) and so I've gotten lots of inquiries about the candy collection as well as about MoverMoms in general.

Questions range from whether chocolate is ok to send to soldiers in the desert (answer: yes at this time of year and through the winter), to whether it's ok to drop off Beanie Babies at one of the collection sites (yes, though our focus is candy) to whether there are collection sites in other parts of Montgomery County and elsewhere...etc. etc.

There have also been a couple of media inquiries, which is fantastic because that's such an effective way to get the word out. Not sure what will become of those, but I'm glad the interest is there. At the end of the day this project really is a feel-good story because of how it brings together so many people for participation in a goodwill effort for the brave soldiers.

But who would have thought of candy as such a unifying force? Not me! Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to eat an Almond Joy (have loads of them in the house in anticipation of Halloween, and just can't resist!).

Day 46 -- Speaking with elderly woman and delivering jeans

"I have never let my schooling interfere with my education."
---Mark Twain

Today I had the privilege of speaking with a woman in her 80s. The purpose of the call was to initiate a friendly relationship with her so that I can spend time with her on a regular basis. It's a program of the Jewish Social Services Agency called the Friendly Visitor Program. Activities can include taking her to do errands, grocery shopping, browsing in stores, having coffee or lunch, or just being with her where she lives.

I expected the conversation to be short and matter-of-fact. It actually lasted over 45 minutes and covered so many topics. In the small world department, it turns out she grew up and lived in the same town that my sister does in New York, and she went to the same high school as my mom (but did so several years earlier). I knew of the shopping area where she worked and of several landmark buildings that she mentioned.

Currently she lives alone and is somewhat lonely. But she seems like a lovely person and after our long conversation we decided that our first "visit" in November will include an outing to the new shops in Chevy Chase. She hasn't seen those yet, and while I've driven by at least 100 times, I've never gone in. Should be fun for both of us!

After getting off the phone I realized how much I can learn from this woman, about life, loss, aging, and more. I'm really looking forward to meeting her in person.
______________________
Also delivered about a dozen or more used men's jeans to Miriam's Kitchen, along with more donated mugs. I continue to be amazed at how quick people are to give used stuff in excellent condition and not even ask for a donation slip - very kind of them, and I know it's much appreciated by the organization.

Day 45 - Planning Treats-4-Troops

"I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have."
---Thomas Jefferson

Today I did more planning for the big candy collection -- Treats-4-Troops. We nearly doubled our candy collection last year from the previous year, which was the first year, largely because we had collection at two more sites, a high school and a private home.

This year we're hoping for as much as last year or maybe even more - which would be fantastic since it'd enable us to give it to Boatsie's Boxes, the group that does Operation Christmas Stocking and packs the candy in stockings for troops of all faiths. We have 6 main collection sites - 2 high schools and four private homes, and a couple of others that people have arranged.

But I've realized the candy won't come pouring in automatically. It takes work from our group, MoverMoms and from me - from sending out the email messages to coordinating with school officials and individuals whose homes will be collection sites to delivering and hanging signs to doing other publicity as well -- this is truly a group effort and "takes a village" to make happen. Though the economy may have a minor effect, generally speaking it's a pretty simple equation - the more effort we put in, the more candy we collect.

Day 44-- Making poster and cards for the troops

"Enthusiasm is the greatest asset in the world. It beats money and power and influence."
---Henry Chester

Today I helped organize and oversee a poster and card making project that MoverMoms suggested and participated in through Montgomery County's 23rd Annual Community Service Day. The County provided all the art supplies as well as the indoor space for the project, and the chief organizer, Karen Thon, was terrific about having everything ready to go.

Perhaps because publicity was good, or because the project was geared to kids, or simply because it was raining (and therefore not conducive to outside play), many people showed up to help out. There were kids from about age 6 to 14, and several adults as well, all sitting together at a large conference table writing touching cards to soldiers (with phrases such as "Hope you come home soon," "You rock" "I'm going to give you my Halloween candy"), and posters intended to be used for the Treats-4-Troops candy collection project.

I was so impressed at the kids' creativity and enthusiasm for this project. They were concentrating on their writing and designs, and not goofing around at all, even though it was the middle of a Saturday afternoon and no one was forcing them to do this. Several moms too, and even one dad, put their artistic skills to work, so that by the end we had a couple of dozen cards and about 20 posters! It's amazing what people of all ages can accomplish when working together with enthusiasm and a positive attitude!

Day 43 -- Making sandwiches for the homeless with schoolchildren

"The world is a dangerous place, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it."
---Albert Einstein

Today I had the privilege of spending time at my daughter's elementary school where some children in each grade took time out of their recess period to make sandwiches for the homeless. The sandwiches were far from gourmet -- they were cheese, turkey, ham, and a combination of those. But the children took great pride in each step of the process - decorating brown paper lunch bags with drawings, cartoon figures, and upbeat phrases, as well as packing two sandwiches, along with fruit, candy, and more in each, and putting the bag in a designated box after it was stapled closed. Many kids -- older and younger -- even wanted to do the activity twice.

I came away realizing that when presented in a simple yet creative way -- and when allowed to do an altruistic activity together with friends -- kids will give up part of their favorite school activities to help less fortunate people. This activity seemed very normal to them, and while one could argue that making one lunch isn't doing all that much for the larger homeless problem, it certainly gives kids a bit of education and realization that not everyone has as much as they do, and certainly not everyone gets to be picky about what they eat for lunch (that's an issue we've occasionally had in my house - I'm working on it!).

Bottom line: It was nice to see kids doing something to help others during the school day.

Day 42 -- Writing community presentation summary

"Give a little bit
Give a little bit of your love to me
Give a little bit
I'll give a little bit of my love to you
There's so much that we need to share
So send a smile and show you care."
---from song called "Give a Little Bit" by Supertramp

Today I wrote up the summary of a Tuesday presentation to the community by a woman who wrote a book on college admissions. It's called “You’re Accepted:
Lose the Stress. Discover Yourself. Get into the College That’s Right for You.”
The book takes a sort of granola-ish approach to the whole process, encouraging students to focus on self-discovery and to make it a personal journey of self-acceptance. Many of the concepts came from the speaker's background as a yoga instructor. It could seem a bit touchy-feely, but truth be told I think it's exactly what high stress, intense students need to hear.

The presentation drew about 100 to 150 people but sending the summary out on the listserv means many, many more will now know about it. Often in the past I have felt way underpaid as a freelance writer, but in this case, as was the case yesterday at the writer's center, it feels good to put my writing skills to use in the volunteering arena. I will do so again when writing up the PTSA minutes, probably tomorrow, underscoring to me yet again how many different ways there are to give back to the community.

Also met with a very nice woman at the Jewish Social Servies Agency today regarding a volunteer project that I hope to begin through this organization. It involves visiting an elderly woman, doing errands with her, and providing some companionship. I am looking forward to that and will keep you posted on how it goes.....

Day 41 - Helping teens at the high school writer's center

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
---Eleanor Roosevelt

Today I volunteered at the Writer's Center at Walt Whitman High School and got to help kids with their college essays. It's a wonderful exercise for teens to write about themselves as they must for these applications. Why? Because it gives the young people the chance to be introspective and think about who and what matter most matter to them, and about where they see themselves having come from as well as where they see themselves heading.

May seem like they're just 'kids.' But in 17 or 18 years they've collected many life experiences and deep thoughts, as well as of course goals and dreams. Getting to listen to their opinions and read their writings really is a lot of fun.

Day 40 -- Attending PTSA meeting at high school and taking minutes

"Most people don't aim too high and miss. They aim too low and hit."
---Bob Moawad

Tonight I attended the PTSA meeting at my daughter's high school, where we had a short meeting followed by a talk on college admissions. The speaker, Katie Malachuk, wrote a book called "You're Accepted: Lose the Stress. Discover Yourself. Get into the College That's Right for You." She spent much time talking about the need for kids to make the college application process a journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance, rather than an effort to package oneself into something that one thinks the colleges are looking for or into a candidate that parents/guidance counselors/others think will have the best shot of getting into a school.

I found her talk uplifting and refreshing, since the process can be so stressful for the teen and therefore for the parent. Her approach is in part based on her job as a yoga teacher, and so a major goal is to get rid of the stress while being honest and true to oneself.

Another uplifting community event that I attended today was the Washington Area Women's Foundation's 2009 Leadership Luncheon. I walked into a ballroom filled with about 1000 women of so many different ages and backgrounds. The Emcee was Doreen Gentzler, who is so articulate and welcoming, and the moderators were the mother daughter team of Cokie and Rebecca Roberts, both much admired journalists. There were other amazing women speakers too, including a woman from the Obama Administration.

To see mother and daughter up on the podium together was particularly inspiring, though the really inspirational part was to hear the success stories of this terrific organization that raises money from women in order to help women and girls succeed and have more economic security. This organization provides a great model of the power that women have when aiming high and working together, two goals that I strive to do and greatly admire.

Day 39 -- Delivering meal to friend who had surgery

"People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously. This is how character is built."
---Eleanor Roosevelt

Tonight I delivered a meal to a friend who recently had surgery. Nothing gourmet or fancy, but hopefully edible and maybe even tasty. This friend has had more than one surgery as she has battled cancer, but always has a smile on her face when I have come by with a meal. She dresses well, looks great, and talks about a range of topics unrelated to her health. I am so impressed and inspired by her attitude and courage.

Day 38 -- Participating in Halloween Young Run

"I would rather regret the things I have done than the things I have not."
---Lucille Ball

Today I participated with my daughter in the Halloween Young Run. It was a beautiful sight to watch -- a couple of thousand (or so) kids and parents running together distances of 1 mile (or less) on a cold, wet morning in Rockville. Other parents cheering on the sidelines as though a dignitary or celebrity was marching in a parade. Loads of volunteers on hand to provide bibs and other goodies to kids as they checked in, to keep the course safe and well-marked, to put medals around the finishers' necks, to provide post-race snacks and drinks, and to run booths with a variety of games like ball tosses, soccer kicks, etc...truly a community-wide event.

Some proceeds for the non-competitive race went to charities that help kids with disabilities play sports.

We thought about not going because of the weather, but as is usually the case with events like these, I am so glad we did. My daughter and so many other kids got to feel like champions; they got to see friends early on a Sunday morning when they'd probably otherwise be home; they could feel the joy and see the enthusiasm that results when people join together for a good cause, and they got some early morning exercise while doing something fun. And parents got some fitness and social time too. What more can a mom or dad want in a child's activity??

Day 37 -- Attending volunteer orientation and CARE talk

"Not all those who wander are lost."
---J.R.R. Tolkein

I was a bit all over the map, or at least in different corners of it, with my service focus today. I attended a volunteer orientation of Greater DC Cares at the Mount Pleasant Public Library in DC in the afternoon, then headed in the evening to a talk by a woman from the non-profit organization CARE.

At the volunteer orientation, about 60 people of different ages listened attentively to a talk by a Greater DC Cares representative as she discussed the myriad volunteer opportunities in the DC area. Short term, long term, leadership-focused, team oriented, youth-related -- you name it, it's offered through this organization. It was very inspiring to see such a robust turnout and such enthusiasm for volunteering among the attendees.

At the CARE talk, about 15 people gathered in the warm and friendly home of Phyllis Levinson, a terrific woman who is also in MoverMoms. The speaker addressed the whole issue of women's health during pregnancy and childbirth, and discussed what this wonderful organziation is doing with partners across the globe to safeguard women's maternal and post-partum health so that families can thrive. Loads of food for thought and very inspiring to learn about the work that is being done on this issue, primarily in Asia and Africa.

Had to leave a fun tour of the National Cathedral that I was doing with family and good friends to get to the orientation, and had to go out in the pouring rain to get to the nighttime gathering. But as is usually the case with these kinds of events, I was so glad I went. I left thinking about the many entrenched societal problems both locally and globally, but left knowing that very dedicated people are addressing them in creative and persistent ways. Makes me want to do my part, whatever that part may be....

Day 36 - Planning for Treats-4-Troops

"Vision without action is a daydream; action without vision is a nightmare."
---Japanese proverb

Today I began planning for the MoverMoms big annual candy collection project called Treats-4-Troops. We collect extra and donated Halloween candy and give it to Boatsie's Boxes, a West Virginia organization that packs it all in Christmas stockings for US troops of all faiths in all branches of the military in Iraq and Afghanistan. The organization is run by a super-dynamic, amazing woman named Boatsie VanVranken, who send shipments of goodies to soldiers at different times of the year.

I am hoping that together with MoverMoms and so many other people in the community who get involved in this that we can collect as much or more candy than in the past two years -- namely one or two van loads -- which would be wonderful. My favorite parts about the project are the generosity of kids, who so willingly fork over their candy when they find out it's going to US soldiers, and the way it enables the crossing of paths of so many kind people in the community.

Day 35 -- Delivering Meals on Wheels

"A person is not old until regrets take the place of dreams."
---John Barrymore

Today I delivered food to elderly people for the Meals on Wheels program. The recipients, who were in their late 80s and 90s, were not necessarily in the best of health but were well enough to be living in their own homes or apartments. I had a wonderful conversation with one gentleman who is nearly blind. Just coming to his door seemed to brighten his day, as he is a bachelor who doesn't have much family around. But the funny thing is that talking to him brightened my day too. He is a former teacher and administrator, and worked as a high school teacher, assistant principal, and more, and he had many insights into teenagers (those always interest me as a mom of teens!) and into the history of Montgomery County Public Schools.

Another woman, said to be in her late 90s, was hard at work on an extremely difficult puzzle when I arrived with her meal. It had mountain and wooded scenery against a blue sky and background, and must have been a few hundred pieces. I was inspired by her diligence and interest in completing it (aren't puzzles one of those things that keep one's mind sharp?).

Some of the people I deliver to do indeed seem very old when I look at them and at their sometimes apparent physical problems. But upon talking to them I can often hear a more youthful spirit, or just provide an occasional listening ear. Either way it's as rewarding an activity for the deliverer (is that a word??) as the deliveree (not sure about that one either...).

Day 34-- Helping after school and donating used games

"It's possible to own too much. A man with one watch knows what time it is while a man with two watches is never quite sure."
---Lee Segall

Yesterday I saw an email posting on the school listserv about a request for used games to be donated for indoor recess. So I used this opportunity to go through our many games with my daughter Amanda and pick out ones that we never or rarely use. As it turned out, there were a bunch, and together we agreed that I would bring them to school and place them in the box by the office.

It was a teachable moment for Amanda to sort through the games. I was really proud of her for so readily realizing that she didn't need to keep them all when she was barely using them. I have noticed her becoming more giving lately, and I hope it's in part due to this project. Like other kids her age, she loves to mimic what her parents do.

It was also a good feeling for me to go through and clean out our games cabinet. Truly there is such a thing as having too much of almost anything, and games/toys certainly are no exception. I had kept games from years ago, thinking maybe we'd use them but mostly just not taking the time to sort through them. Thus today was not only about giving, but also about de-cluttering, a highly undervalued activity!

I also helped for a few minutes at Sign Language Club, while waiting for the wonderful teacher to come. I would never have thought of going out and signing my daughter up for this, but given that it's right at the school with such a great teacher I couldn't resist. And with my daughter (and from what I can see with the other kids), it's a big hit!

Day 33 - Volunteering at elementary school

"Only when we give joyfully, without hesitation or thought of gain, can we truly know what love means."
---Leo Buscaglia

Today I volunteered for the first time this year in my daughter's class. Subject was math but I was given the task of collating simple reading books, which I did gladly since it needed to be done.

Volunteering in a classroom inevitably leads me to have great respect for the teacher, regardless of whether he/she is stellar or not (in this case she is!). How do these mere mortals do so much for so many children each and every school day?

And the kids could not be cuter - so eager to learn. This was my second day in a row in the classroom, as yesterday was the annual Open House when parents can come and go in their child's classroom. But each day is equally inspiring. I am amazed each time I go at how different classroom settings are today than back when I was a kid - back then, at least in my private school, there was so much order to everything.

People say today education is geared too much toward testing, but I recall a much less creative and bustling classroom than I see in elementary school today. I remember teachers standing at the front of the silent room (other than her voice) and teaching one lesson at a time. If you didn't listen, you were sent to a corner or to the principal. Now it seems kids are working together in groups, talking together about their work rather than listening to a teacher lecture, and doing more creative projects. If only it continued to be this fun and low-stress through middle and high school......

Day 32 -- Starting used men's jeans collection drive

"You can't change the wind; you can, however, adjust your sails."
---Unknown

Today I was supposed to host a PTSA Executive Committee meeting at my house, but it got cancelled in the afternoon. With little time to regroup and find another project, I thought about making a meal and donating it to a shelter, as has been my plan B on other occasions. Home cooked food seems to always be appreciated at many shelters.

But that would have involved a trip to the grocery store as well as to the shelter and my schedule was already pretty full. So I came up with the idea of starting a used men's jeans drive. This idea comes from a comment posted a few days ago by someone at Miriam's Kitchen, where I recently donated about 100 mugs (with a substantial donation from another mom).

The comment said that Men's jeans were very much needed. So far I have two pair - from my husband. My plan is to post something about it on the MoverMoms list and collect from friends too. Hopefully the effort will yield a bunch.

This journey was bound to take some unexpected turns - I just hope I have the creativity to come up with new ideas as needed. As always I welcome your suggestions!

Day 31 -- Attending and helping at neighborhood festival

"Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. The third is to be kind."
---Henry James

This quote seems especially true when it comes to neighbors. Having kind neighbors and a kind community to live in increases one's quality of life. When we first moved to the Washington area, we lived in a neighborhood where everyone seemed to leave early in the morning and return at night. Fortunately I met two very nice families with young children like I had, and it was the kindness of these two nearby neighbors that made living there bearable and fun.

Next we moved to a Mayberry-like neighborhood in Bethesda, which I miss to this day. Then to Chevy Chase, where we stayed only two years but met some very kind and friendly neighbors who made us feel like we were in a strong community.

In our current neighborhood, we initially didn't feel very connected to the community (other than a few special neighbors) but over time that has changed. One woman in particular -- Renee West -- has taken on the demanding task of organizing a neighborhood festival a couple of times a year each year for several years. And each one seems to get bigger and better (often I find that those two words don't go well together, but in this case they do!).

Today a huge number of people of different ages came to the neighborhood park on a glorious Sunday afternoon to hang out, paint pumpkins, play soccer, eat snacks, get faces painted, and more. The Neighborhood Festival is becoming a tradition. You get to talk to people that you rarely see but whom may live just a few houses away, since with our busy lives we just can't get together as often as we'd like.

So in this day and age, events like this one are not only fun but necessary for community building. Though I really didn't do much with clean up, whatever I did was done with
pleasure, as I could tell by the end that nearly everyone seemed to leave with positive feelings about the festival and the neighborhood :-)

Day 30 -- Participating in the Leukemia & Lymphona Society's Light the Night Walk

"Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out."
---John Wooden

Tonight I participated in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light the Night Walk. I did so as part of Team Holtzman, a team put together by my friend Mary, who was stricken with Leukemmia several years ago and is now a five year survivor. The weather was crisp and clear, and the timing of the start coincided perfectly with a gorgeous pink and purple sunset. In addition, there was a band playing festive music, with lots of familiar rock tunes, and several booths/tents with giveaways of food, stickers, and more.

The Walk was amazing. I had no idea what to expect, but headed up to Rockville with my youngest daughter to meet Mary and walk with her and her team. I arrived later than I had hoped and had a hard time finding parking, so by the time we got to the tent where we were supposed to meet Mary she and her team were no longer there. They and most of the crowd had already begun walking to the starting line.

I was shocked at how many people were there - Mary estimated it to be around a few thousand. Most people were holding red balloons with lights placed inside them, hence they were "lighting the night" as they walked together. There were teams from Elementary schools (leading me to think they were walking in honor or memory of a child), from corporations, from churches and other organizations, and many individuals walking with friends and family.

The walk, which seemed super-well organized, included a loop around Rockville Town Center. My daughter and I only ended up doing part of it, as we walked from the finish line towards the walkers in the hope of finding Mary. Sure enough, we spotted her, smiling as usual and excited about the event. Mary is the kind of person who always has a positive attitude. I don't see her often enough but always enjoy when I do. I was especially impressed to hear that she raised even more funds for the cause than she had pledged to. Actually this isn't surprising given her energy and enthusiasm about this cause and about life.

Walks like this one (and the MS one last weekend) leave me feeling sad because you inevitably see people who are suffering from a particular disease, or hear sad stories about people who died from it. But I also feel exhiliarated by the hundreds or in this case thousands of people who gathered to walk for awareness, for a cure, or for a celebration of life after facing and overcoming a very tough battle.

Day 29 -- Packing gift baskets at mental health non-profit

"If we have the opportunity to be generous with our hearts, ourselves, we have no idea of the depth and breadth of love's reach."
---Margaret Cho

Today I helped make gift baskets for an upcoming event/fundraiser of the National Alliance on Mental Illness in Montgomery County. By the time I arrived, several volunteers were hard at work, putting together beautiful gift baskets with all kinds of items in them. Cellophane wrapping with bows tied on top covered most of the baskets.

I was struck by how professional the baskets looked, and quite frankly a bit nervous that I wasn't up to par when it came to making them, though I managed to do a few. I imagine the winners (many are being auctioned off) will be very happy to get them, as they are clearly put together with a lot of TLC and contain a lot of decorative and useful stuff.

Tonight I went to another fun community event which didn't involve volunteering but still had a nice giving component. It was a book swap hosted by a longtime friend at her beautiful home. Each woman who came brought some books that we put on a table, and as each person left she could take the books she chose. As a book lover, I couldn't help thinking the idea was brilliant. I browsed at the titles, took a biography of Ben Bradlee for my husband and a Jodi Picault novel for my daughter, and left with the notion that I definitely want to copy her idea sometime, maybe as another day's project or just for the fun of it.

Day 28 --- Delivering Meals on Wheels and calling new families at high school

"It's not so hard to get rich as it is to know when you have gotten rich."
---Josh Billings

Today I delivered Meals on Wheels once again, bringing a hot and cold meal plus a drink to several very elderly people. It wasn't easy for any of them to get to the door, yet the ones I was able to have a conversation with were so very friendly and appreciative for these simple meals. One told me about his three decades plus as a school teacher and administrator, yet he rarely goes outside now because he has very limited eyesight. Another could barely hold the meals, which were packed in a cardboard box and in a small foil container.

Seeing them made me count my blessings that on such a gorgeous fall day I could easily go in and out of my car, move around freely, and enjoy the sunshine. I felt "rich" in a way that is irrelevant of how much money is in the bank account. Note to self: Look for more projects that involve elderly people. Being around them can be very uplifting and/or can make one feel that one is making a difference.

I also had the opportunity to call some new families at the local high school. Totally coincidentally, one of the people I called -- a really nice guy -- was my nephew's teacher last year up in New York. Is that indicative of a small world or what?!

Day 27-- Helping at the high school writing center

"Kindness is more important than wisdom and the recognition of this is the beginning of wisdom."
---Theodore Isaac Rubin

I have to hope this quote is true, as my task today was to help teens with their short papers on John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men and I tried to be kind when doing so. Nothing like helping out at a high school writing center to make you feel a bit uneducated when it comes to classic literature!

Though I think I read that book long ago, I couldn't for the life of me remember the themes and motifs. Fortunately the kids were very knowledgeable and incorporated into their papers lots of key information from the novel. I was able to help them with the writing style and structure, as well as with the grammar (yes, high schoolers still sometimes need help with grammar), so didn't feel useless, but it did make me realize I should take time to read some of those great novels, especially now that I won't be tested or graded on them!

Day 26 -- Delivering mugs to Miriam's Kitchen

"Give what you have. To someone, it may be better than you dare think."
---Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Hurray -- I'm moving into the second quarter of this 100 day journey!!

Today I delivered about 100 sturdy coffee mugs to Miriam's Kitchen, a place that provides meals and services to homeless people in Washington DC in an atmosphere of dignity and respect. In fact Michelle Obama volunteered here recently, and praised the organization for the great work that they do.

I had collected the mugs from a declutterization (is that a word? seems like it should be!) of a couple of my kitchen cabinets and from a generous mom in the MoverMoms group. Driving down was a bit inconvenient, but I made it before rush hour, got to listen to my new Spanish tapes (trying for about the 4th time to learn this language!) and got to see a few nice neighborhoods downtown (I took a couple of wrong turns) .

I realized how important the transportation component of volunteering is -- without a viable way of moving stuff from one location to another, how could so many useful collection drives take place?

This homeless services center is located in a church near the upscale Watergate Hotel and the Kennedy Center. Sad that in the backdrop of this wealth is a place where homeless people flock. But it's an excellent place, with a well-established breakfast program, Case Management Program, and After-breakfast program.

After delivering the mugs, I was ready to start collecting something else (or to volunteer there at some point) so asked for a list of items needed. Among other things, they need men's underwear and will accept it used....as the woman said when I inquired about that "if someone doesn't have any underwear and a pair that's in good shape is given to them they will accept it." What a potent reminder of how unfair the world is. Fortunately each of us can do our part to try to rectify that...

Day 25 -- Being a parent volunteer at Drama Club

"Only when we give joyfully, without hesitation or thought of gain, can we truly know what love means."
---Leo Buscaglia

Today I was one of two parent volunteers at my daughter's school for the afterschool Drama Club. I was excited to be able to be a fly on the wall and see what the children (about 40 or 50 of them) have been doing in the club meetings twice a week.

Turns out they are singing and dancing up a storm to several Broadway hits. The dance they practiced today wasn't particularly hard in and of itslef, but it must have been hard to do it in sync with so many other kids.

It's always fun to be around performing children. And I marvel at their abilities, so highly developed among some. I think I'm all the more interested in and amazed by what these kids do since I had practically zero talent in this area as a kid and did not steer my older girls towards it. I recall getting picked for abbreviated part as Golda, the mom in Fiddler on the Roof, and Maria, the Governess, in Sound of Music. But since those are the last roles I can remember I guess that means my acting/drama career piqued by fourth grade!

Uh oh, falling asleep here -- it's been a really late weekend...better sign off. Goodnight!

Day 24 -- Setting up and cheering at MS walk

"If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else."
---Booker T. Washington

Today I helped at a walk to raise awareness and funds for a cure for Multiple Sclerosis. I went as a volunteer for a MoverMoms project with another mom, who was kind enough to go on the morning of her birthday and with my youngest daughter, who seems to take to these projects like a fish to water, especially when there are t-shirts and food being given out! We also went with a dad and his two daughters, as they went to cheer on their mom who was a walker.

The tasks were pretty minor -- putting up a tent for tables with various things on them, from food to cow-bells to bubbles and more; carrrying water jugs from one place to another; taping down trash bags so that the wind didn't blow them away; and just being there to cheer on the walkers as they crossed the finish line.

But the impact of all the volunteers collectively was to create a finish line where participants could feel that their accomplishment (30 mile walk!) was being recognized and celebrated. There was a small but enthusiastic crowd of people of all ages cheering, several tables of lunch types of food and drinks, ample space under tents to sit and rest, and upbeat music playing in the background to give the atmosphere a more festive feel.

All this took place on a gorgeous fall day in the backdrop of the Washington monument, with the sun shining, the wind blowing, and the temperature a breezy 60 degrees or so. Great way to spend a Sunday morning!

Day 23--- Chaperoning high school Homecoming dance

"You must give time to your fellow men. Even if it's a little thing, do something for others -- something for which you get no pay but the privilege of doing it."
---Albert Schweitzer

Tonight I had the privilege of chaperoning at the high school dance. I've had two kids go through that school but they never wanted me to be present during the dance. My 17 year-old, however, was one of the organizers and she was happy to have me volunteer.

I got to see the kids all dressed up, way better dressed than I ever was in high school, and to see the administrators and security folks working hard and keeping the environment safe and fun. I got to watch the kids in their element, mingling and dancing in the gym with cool lighting and decorations along with blaring music. And I got to hang out and chat with a few of my friends who I hadn't seen in a while and who were also volunteering. All in all not a bad way to spend a Saturday night!

Day 22 -- collecting coffee mugs to donate to shelter

"A pessimist, they say, sees a glass of water as being half empty; an optimist sees the same glass as half full. But a giving person sees a glass of water and starts looking for someone who might be thirsty."
---G. Donald Gale

I did not have a specific project lined up today so I followed up on an item in an e-newsletter that I got from Miriam's Kitchen in DC. The item said the shelter needs coffee mugs. I figured I had a few extra cof those luttering up a kitchen shelf and this would be a good excuse to de-clutter (why do I always need an excuse to de-clutter rather than just doing it for its own sake?).

I found about 10 mugs at home, but the real jackpot was when I mentioned this small goal to my friend Brenda, who happened to have 75 mugs at her house that she was willing to part with. She had bought them as a set for a special occasion but no longer needed them. So I was up to about 90 mugs with minimal effort.

If you're looking for a project, you could easily do this, or something like it. Just look around for something in your house that you'd like to have less of, and put them together in a box or bag. Chances are someone else also wants to have fewer of that item, and all you need to do is collect from a couple of other people and find an organization to donate them to. Don't be afraid to ask people to donate stuff - often times you are doing them a favor by taking the stuff off their hands or out of their homes.

I've become a big advocate of collection drives of various kinds, as the free transfer of goods from one person or group to another seems so productive and good for the environment, not to mention that it's also a really nice gesture of kindness on the part of the givers and collectors.

Day 21 -- Helping at women's shelter silent auction

"No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted."
---Aesop

Tonight I went downtown with another mom and her daughter as well as my daughter and a neighbor to help at the fundraiser of a day shelter for women. Turned out there were plenty of volunteers so our help was not really needed.

Still, the effort was far from wasted. For one thing we brought with us several bags of clothes donated by women in MoverMoms, and had we not been going to the auction we would not have done the clothing drive. Also, we were able to talk to the kids about the women's shelter and the good work that they do. And third, we got to see all the items that were up for bidding at the Silent Auction and had the opportunity to bid (and thereby make a donation) on stuff that we liked.

I have had a few occasions where I've been a volunteer and there hasn't been enough to keep me or other volunteers busy. I guess it's the nature of the beast. But better to have too many than too few, and tonight I was more than happy to hang out with a friend and the kids for a while in an elegant setting where people had gathered for a good cause. And did I mention the food?? In a word, yum!