I added a new shop the other day - destash - books, beads, baubles, supplies etc. I've decided I'm going to move in the spring - and so I'm going to start clearing out now.
I do things slowly - it takes me about twice as long to get things done as it does most people.
BUT, the first person that marked me as a favorite is a member of HOST - so of course my curiousity got the better of me and I had to check out what HOST is.
HOST stands for Helping Others Street Team.
Following links I ended up reading part of a forum post that ended up being about 300 pages - didn't read all of it - it was started on Dec 20th. 2007
it started out with one person asking if there was someone in need.
by the end of that thread - another one got started, and another.................
Some people coming forward and expressing their need - some just needed support, some needing help with their shop, some needing prayers with medical issues, some in some really bad financial problems.
I was impressed by how many people responded - with help - some financial - some donating items so children would have a few presents for Christmas (this is the 20th going on the 21st of Dec) - people donating shipping fees to get the presents to their destination.
WOW!
And out of this came HOST.
I have spent a lot of time on the computer the past few days - reading - looking, more reading - joined HOST - and reading more on the team page of some of the problems some people are having. ANd reading all the support!
What amazes me - so many of the members of HOST - who are making an effort to help other people have some pretty major problems themselves! Everything from medical, financial, problems with spouses, kids, all that come with life.
What generosity.
My maternal grandmother opened my eyes at a fairly young age to the fact that there are many people in this world who need help. Help can often take on many forms - it doesn't always have to be money.
We took this family some clothes and one of her wonderful blackberry pies - and I think some other food.
this family lived in a shack. Seriously - it was little more than a one room plank board shack. In northern North Carolina. I was too young at the time to really understand just what all that meant -
Most of my clothes were hand me downs - we weren't poor - I think it also stemmed from the fact that both my parents lived through the depression - it was about sharing, about recycling, reusing, making do - making what you have to go further.
What a concept.
And from that - I learned to be a pack rat - because either I or someone can use it!
I have furniture in my apartment that most people would throw in the trash - in fact that's where some of it came from! Some furniture I dug out of the dumpster has been donated - I have some waiting to be picked up.
Some of it is a little beat up. But when you have nothing - something is better than nothing.
I have this awesome couch - frame - with a little ingenuity and few bucks it could be made into a totally awesome couch.
I'm going off a bit here.
not too much -
So many people today seem so focused on everything having to be new - and throwing away usuable things - AT LEAST DONATE IT TO SOMEONE - it's the throwing things away that gets me!
There are so many organizations out there that help people out - that help people get back on their feet - from whatever it was that brought them down. And they often need furniture, clothes, household items.
I found a box of children's shoes - at least 20 pairs of shoes! Most were barely worn - we all know how fast kids outgrow shoes!
Clothes - 10 bags - trash bags - large trash bags of perfectly good clothes - in the dumpster.
and more.....................
There is an organization in Albuquerque called Crossroads.
They help out women who are recovering from drug/alcohol addiction, and women reintegrating into society from jail.
They can use all sorts of things - here's their ph # 505-242-1010
HOST - a bunch of people who help out a lot of people - including themselves - many are facing their own financial and health problems - pay them a visit - visit the shops that are members of HOST -
http://host.etsy.com/There are so many things that can contribute to someone having financial problems - not just laziness.
Major illness. Loss of job. Accidents. etc
and some of those things can completely alter your life. And sometimes it's hard to get back up.
I know things are tight for a lot of people right now -
but do you really need that Starbucks coffee every morning - make the coffee - add some yummy stuff and you can save so much over a period of time.
I love mocha frappacino - you can come pretty close to it by adding instant hot choc mix!
Getting new furniture? - donate the old stuff - there are other places besides Goodwill -
Clothes that don't fit anymore? Storehouse, Crossroads, Veterans organizations,
Besides all that - sometimes people could use a ride to the grocery store once in a while.
Many disabled people end up losing their cars - and getting back from the grocery store with food can be difficult sometimes. And, no - not everyone has family to help out.
Sometimes, people just need someone to talk to .
What would our world be like if every one was just a little more generous and more conscious of other people in it!
