However, I asked you to donate to a worthy cause, and I didn't even have any cookies to sell you. I just made my case for one of my favorite charities the only way I knew how - by blogging. I was nervous about it. I'd never asked you to do anything other than maybe try a divine rhubarb crisp recipe, and I was unsure of what would happen, if I'd even make my simple goal to raise $300 in donations.
To my astonishment, many of you opened your hearts (and your pockets) and gave whatever you could. $5 here, $20 there, but every dollar you donated along with the fundraising efforts of my friend Petra added up to big dollars. $1,677 to be exact, demolishing my small $300 goal.
Petra and I present a check for $1,677 to Renee and Mike of Great Plains Food Bank
I was astounded. I was excited. And yeah, maybe I cried.
I understand that $1,677 isn't a cure-all, but it's part of the solution to fine-tune our food distribution system to ensure there is not one child waking up this morning wondering where they will find food today, perhaps sitting distractedly in a classroom waiting for their only meal at school lunch. If nothing else, this experience reminded me of a simple truth: we are stronger together than apart. Like the fibers of a rope, bees in a hive or musicians in a symphony, our influence and power to do good, affect change and become the best we can be grows exponentially when we connect with others, participate in our communities, actively support one another and cheer each other on to pursue our passions.
It's all part of living a meaningful life, and I sincerely thank you for reminding me of that.
PS - for more information on hunger in America, check out the documentary A Place At The Table. Screenings are happening all across the US now.
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