Helping Hearts, Blog of Anne Sanders

Ten Gifts Under $50 That Give Three Ways for the Holidays – to the Receiver, the Giver, and a Charity! When was shopping ever this much fun? I am releasing my Gifts That Give List just in time for the holidays and I’m keeping each item under $50. It’s a way to let you know how many retailers are making it easier to be charitable than ever before and that there are some amazing gifts out there that help causes in America and around the world. 1.        Make-a-Wish Star Bracelet for $30.00. I love gifts you can personalize and this one comes with a star attached that you can have engraved. You can get it at Things Remembered which will be giving a minimum of $150,000 to the Make-a-Wish Foundation which grants wishes to terminally ill children. 2.       Handmade glass ornament for $29.50. Use it at Christmas or any time hanging in a tree or window where it can be seen by all. Net proceeds from the ornament will go to fund...

I write about a lot of volunteering days and another one is coming up December 5—International Volunteer Day.   This one has been sponsored by the United Nations since 1985 and 2011 is the ten year anniversary of the year of the volunteer in 2001.   The UN General Assembly will be discussing volunteerism between now and December 5 and you can listen to and chime in on their discussions here .   There’s also a photo contest to show how volunteering can help countries meet peace and development goals. November 19 was also National Family Volunteering Day. But none of these volunteering days means a thing if they are not celebrated in the spirit of volunteerism, by doing something to help others. So, on the Wednesday before National Family Volunteering Day, my son and I went shopping.   We bought sunscreen, toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, razors, dental floss, candy canes, summer sausage logs and crackers for a group of 800 Army soldiers in Afghanistan. The unit ...