Giving Back

Since I started losing weight a few months ago, I have been talking with my husband about finding a way to be able to see my weight loss through other means. He suggested things like buying a pound of rice for every pound I lost or something along those lines. Then, once I hit my goal I could donated it all to a local food pantry or similar program.

I really liked the idea behind this because wasn't sure that any food pantry would want a few hundred pounds of rice. I am sure they wouldn't say "no" but I am sure that a larger variety of food items would be better.

Recently my mother started working at the Waterville Homeless Shelter. I talked with her about what I wanted to do. She helped me to come up with a list of items that may be useful to them. In conjunction with the Waterville Homeless Action Committee and other community agencies, many families are moved into apartments on a regular basis. Most of them have a hard time when they first move out. Things that we use on a regular basis have to be purchased. Items such as towels, wash cloths, brooms, mops, other cleaning supplies, paper towels and even toilet paper. The list goes on and on and the need is great.

With all this information in mind, I have decided to make 2 types of donations. One for food items and one for non-food items. For every pound I lose, I will purchase 1 non-food item and spend $1 on food items. Because I recently hit the half way mark on my first goal, I also made my first shopping trip. I went to Sam's club and purchased paper towels, toilet paper, macaroni & cheese, spaghetti and sauce, and other assorted food items that keep for a long time. My first donation will be dropped off on Sunday.

With the economy the way it is, things are especially difficult for many families. Not just people at homeless shelters. Many people go hungry on a regular basis. I recently received information from the Feeding America program that caught my eye. Libby's is doing a virtual food drive.

Every $5 you give provides 35 meals for hungry families. And every dollar raised will be matched by Libby’s, up to $40,000! Where else can you get a deal like that?


Plus, you don't even have to leave the comfort of your own home. Just go to my donation page and make a donation. Also, please feel free to send the link to my page to everyone you know. If we raise $1500, then I get a year's supply of canned vegetables that I plan on giving directly to the Waterville Homeless shelter.

I feel like giving back in this way is really going to give me a sense of purpose. With all the unfortunate problems I have been having through my weight loss process, I am really looking forward to getting something good out of it.

Thank you to everyone that supports me emotionally and thank you in advance to anyone that is able to give to this great cause.