Loving Others Projects 1-10 overview

I am constantly on the look out for ideas to serve others, but beyond that I want my kids to serve with me.  I want to help my children learn to think outside themselves.  I have talked to many moms who think the same way.  Honestly it can be difficult to find avenues to serve that easily incorporate small children.  So I made a list of local service opportunities.  The service opportunities list places to serve, what types of services are available, and if there are opportunities for children to serve along side.  Here are the first 10.  I have more ideas to come. 


Project 1 - Goodie Bags for People Experiencing Homelessness
http://houstontimeframes.blogspot.com/2013/03/loving-others-project-1-goodie-bags-for.html

Project 2 - Donating Your Stuff
http://houstontimeframes.blogspot.com/2013/04/loving-others-project-2-donations.html
http://houstontimeframes.blogspot.com/2013/04/loving-others-project-2-donations_6.html

Project 2.5 - Donations in Reverse - Thrift Stores
http://houstontimeframes.blogspot.com/2013/04/loving-others-project-25-donations-in.html

Project 3 - Gracewood - Help Single Moms and Families In Crisis
http://houstontimeframes.blogspot.com/2013/04/gracewood.html

Project 4 - Pregnancy Help Center (Great opportunity.  Not for children)
http://houstontimeframes.blogspot.com/2013/04/loving-otheres-project-4-pregnancy-help.html

Project 5- Stuffed Animals For Emergencies
http://houstontimeframes.blogspot.com/2013/04/loving-others-project-5-stuffed-animals.html

Project 6 - Adoption
http://houstontimeframes.blogspot.com/2013/04/loving-others-project-6-adoption.html

Project 7 - Helping Orphans Without Adopting
http://houstontimeframes.blogspot.com/2013/05/loving-others-project-7-ways-to-help.html

Project 8 - Honor a Veteran
http://houstontimeframes.blogspot.com/2013/05/loving-others-project-8-honor-vetrans.html

Project 9 - Convalescent Centers, Nursing Homes, and Assisted Living
http://houstontimeframes.blogspot.com/2013/05/loving-others-project-9-convalescent.html

Project 10 - Use your Birthday Parties 
http://houstontimeframes.blogspot.com/2013/05/loving-others-project-9-convalescent.html

Loving Others - Project 10 - Use Your Birthday Parties

At ballet this week a mom told me about a great idea her family does. 

-After her daughter's last birthday party, they sat down and her five-year-old picked out presents to give away.  Texas Children's Hospital only receives toys that are new and unopened.  This was a great way to offer brand new toys to children.  They dropped them off together. 

It inspired me to think about ways to incorporate giving into birthday parties.   

-Another friend has her children give away one old toy for every new toy they receive.  They give the older toy to the church, a relief organization or whatever seems appropriate.  See the donations blogs for some ideas.  http://houstontimeframes.blogspot.com/2013/04/loving-others-project-2-donations.html and http://houstontimeframes.blogspot.com/2013/04/loving-others-project-2-donations_6.html

-Instead of a gift, people could give a donation in honor of the child.  Perhaps the child could pick an organization they want to support and announce it on the party invitation.   Then instead of buying a the birthday child a gift, the person could donate to that organization.  I noticed an "in honor of" section when donating to https://showhope.org/give-hope/donate/, but I am sure this could work with many organizations. 

-Maybe instead of having their own birthday, they could bring a snack to Star of Hope for the Snacks and Goodnight time and celebrate their birthday with everyone there! http://www.sohmission.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=272 

What are some other ideas here?  I'd like to hear from you. 

Loving Others - Project 9 - Convalescent Centers and Nursing Homes

Convalescent center, nursing home, assisted living – Most holidays we make cards.  These are usually paper with some type of sticker or something attached.  I print a little paper that says, Happy Whatever” and my children use way too much glue to glue them on.  These are not fancy cards.  Then we call a local assisted living/nursing home type place and ask when would be a good time to come hand them out to the residents.  They tell me about how many cards to bring and a time and day to come  when there will be residents out and available to receive the cards.  Then I bring my cute little children and hand them out. 

On the drive there we discuss proper etiquette.  If they speak to you, please answer.  We practice answering normal questions.  What’s your name?  How old are you? Are you twins? Did you make this yourself?  Then we practice responses.  What do you say when someone says thank you?  What do you say when someone says they like your dress?   Then we practice saying “Happy Whatever.”

I walk around with them helping them remember their manners but requiring that they interact with the residents.  Then about 15 minutes later we leave. 

Make it a project by inviting other families over to make the cards one day and then inviting them to come to the nursing home to hand them out with you as well.  We often have “Happy Birthday Jesus” parties around Christmas and make cards.  Sometimes we have a valentines card making party.  This way kids feel like their efforts matter. 

 

When you get in the car, talk about the great things they did like answering politely and being king.  Then talk about how we were sharing Jesus with those people by loving them.  Share that they were a happy moment in someone’s day and that is a worthy thing. 

Loving Others - Project 8 - Honor Vetrans

Memorial Day is upon us and I just had an idea. 

There is a large VA hospital right here in Houston.  Why not make a bunch of cards with your kids and go hand them out at the VA hospital on Memorial Day or Veteran's Day (Nov 11) or any day that you feel like honoring those who protect our freedoms?

Loving Others - Project 7 - Ways to Help Orphans Other Than Adoption

Orphans- Ways to help them other than adoption:

There are children that need an advocate.  For one reason or another they are left without loving parents to fight for them.  There are many ways that they can be helped.  One way includes adoption, but there are so many other things that can be done on their behalf.  I posted about adoption a while back and some people wanted to help, but just did not feel called or able to adopt.  Here are some other avenues to consider.  There are things here your whole family (including little children) can be involved in. 

1.        Pray – I have a little paper that says “adoption” taped above my washer.  I see it regularly and am prompted to pray for children awaiting adoption or even in the foster care system who are not in line for adoption at this point. Another idea would be to find a specific person online that needs adoption.  Print out their picture or make it a background on a smart phone or computer screen.  Pray for them every day.  Also, organize prayer groups to pray for orphans.  Pray for your heart too that God gives you a passion and avenue to stand for these orphans.  Pray for families in the process of adopting.  It’s often long, frustrating, and time-consuming. 

2.       Give to an organization - Give money to a foster care/ orphan organization. You can look at the list of local Houston adoption agencies bellow for ideas.  Other places to contribute that are not local may include Show Hope https://showhope.org/give-hope/donate/ and Texas Baptist Children’s Home https://www.childrenatheartministries.org/TBCH-Give-Online. TBCH has a wish list page if you wanted to purchase something specifically that they need.  Compassion International  http://www.compassion.com/

3.       Give to a family you know - Help a family you know cover the cost of adoption.   

4.       Serve - Help families that foster children or have adopted.  Offer a meal when a new child arrives. Bring some board games and play games at a foster home one evening a month.  Watch the children for free one evening so the parents can have a date night together.  Throw a shower for families getting new children even if the children are older.  Become a mentor for a child in foster care. 

5.       Foster – Become a foster parent or an emergency foster parent

6.       Start an orphan ministry in your church - HopeforOrphans.org has an 8 step program to help you  launch a program at your church.   http://www.hopefororphans.org/Display.asp?Page=launchministry

7.       Go on a mission trip - Buckner international sends people all over the world to bring shoes and socks to orphans. You could go on a mission trip or start a drive to collect supplies. http://www.shoesfororphansouls.org/index.shtml http://hopefororphans.org/Display.asp?Page=getinvolved1

8.        Organize a drive to collect items - Orphan Outreach provides backpacks and school supplies to orphans.  http://www.missionbackpack.org/

9.       Share the cause with others - Bethany Christian Services offers a free email that tells of children who need a family.  They suggest posting this email in Sunday School classes. You could also utilize social media to share these stories.  Make you’re your prayer requests at Bible study.  I knew of someone once who carried a picture of an orphan in her purse.  She did not adopt him, but asked many others if God was calling them to.  Sure enough, one person she asked later became that child’s mommy. (I wish I could remember where I heard that story so I could give them credit.)  http://www.bethany.org/main/champions-children

10.   Be their voice - Become a CASA – Court Appointed Special Advocates – According to the webpage,  “Volunteers get to know the child by talking with everyone in that child's life: parents and relatives, foster parents, teachers, medical professionals, attorneys, social workers and others. They use the information they gather to inform judges and others of what the child needs and what will be the best permanent home for them.” You have to participate in 30 hours of training and be willing to stay with the case until it is over (about a year and a half) http://www.casaforchildren.org/site/c.mtJSJ7MPIsE/b.5301309/k.9D58/Volunteering.htm

There are other options to help this organization that are less intensive.  They range from hanging CASA posters to helping with the webpage to organizing events.  http://www.casaforchildren.org/site/c.mtJSJ7MPIsE/b.5307647/k.5D85/Other_Volunteer_Opportunities.htm

 

 

Adoption agencies in Houston (not an exhaustive list)

Arrow – www.arrow.org

Buckner – www.beafamily.org

Homes4Good – http://homes4good.org

Safe Haven – www.safehavencommunityservices.org

Texas Department of Family and Protective Services – www.dfps.state.tx.us

Spauldin for Children – www.spauldingforchildren.org

Gladney Center for Adoption – www.adoptionsbygladney.com (services all of Texas based in Fort Worth)

 

Want more info on adoption? Sept 13-14 there will be conference at Houston’s First Baptist Church See www.showhope.org/connect for more information. Early Bird registration is available through July 12 and offers a discounted rate.