Saturday, January 9, 2010

Help Starts @ Home ~ No One Should Be Cold or Hungry


It all started late one evening. Lisa Manyon (Twitter handle @WriteOnCreative) and I (Twitter handle @MaggieKeenan) were being our social selves on social networks. Lisa and I have known each other for several years. We professionally have worked on projects together and we are real friends, Twitter pals and Facebook friends, too.

Lisa posted a question on Facebook that asked: “I think it would be fun to be a professional gift giver w/ an unlimited budget to delight others. What would you give & why?”

This sparked some interesting discussion and I know that Lisa and I both have a passion for giving and helping nonprofits.

Then the magic began. Lisa mentioned she was thinking about the recent Facebook craze of women posting their bra color in their social media status to support breast cancer. But what about taking action to REALLY make a difference. Lisa sent the link about the bra gig to me and I thought wow, what a cool, a very cool idea.

Lisa immediately thought about a blanket drive and then I thought about all the cold and hungry people within our own communities. We were both on the same wavelength.

I suggested we involve a young teenager, Zach Bonner ( @Zach_Bonner on Twitter). He’s a 12-year old and Founder of the
Little Red Wagon Foundation a charity organized to raise awareness and funds to help homeless children. I've been following Zach for over a year. Part of the proceeds of my book support his cause and I followed him last summer on his ATL-DC Walk.

Lisa and I are asking you to join us in supporting this new campaign and we are making it super easy for you. You can either donate your time, a blanket or some food to a charity in your community or nationally, or if you cannot donate your time or items, please consider sending Zach a donation.

Here’s how you can make it happen:

1. Post the information you’ll find below on your Facebook page, blog etc. to spread the word.

2. Take an action yourself. Select the best way to support this campaign.

3. Join our campaign on Twibbon as a supporter.

4. Then, post one of the status suggestions below in all of your social media status sections.

That’s it! So let's get started. Below is all the information you need to help out.


Here’s a suggested post you can use on your blog and to send to friends on your social networks to spread the Help Starts @ Home ~ No One Should Be Cold or Hungry.

Help Starts @ Home ~ No One Should Be Cold Or Hungry

People in your community are cold and hungry. You might not see them on the streets in your community but they are there. Or you may live in a community where it’s more than obvious (Hello, Seattle, Los Angeles, Detroit…). Maggie Keenan (@MaggieKeenan –twitter) and Lisa Manyon (@WriteOnCreative –twitter) are no strangers to giving. They’re challenging you to do the same. So, donate a blanket or food to someone who needs it. Perhaps someone you see on the street or contact your local organizations. There are Community Partnership Act programs across the country, homeless shelters and food banks, too. Or, if you cannot donate an item, donate your time to a local soup kitchen or other shelter. Let’s make a difference.

The Help Starts @ Home movement was inspired by the social media craze of women posting their bra color to support breast cancer. Maggie & Lisa support breast cancer too BUT they’re taking this a step further and challenging you and your family to take action and make a difference.

Help really does start at home and no one should be cold or hungry. Post this to your Facebook wall, pass it on to friends, add it to your blog, send it to your newsletter subscribers & when you’ve taken action, post this in your status on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook or whatever social media platform you choose.

Think of the impact we can ALL make. Oh, and if you really cannot find the time to take action and donate a blanket or food, please consider sending a donation to the The Little Red Wagon Foundation. Zach Bonner (@Zach_Bonner – Twitter) is the founder. He’s 12-Years old and dedicated to helping homeless children. Check him out on Twitter or at http://littleredwagonfoundation.com/ .

Go forth and GIVE. And, when you do, add our Twibbon to your
your Twitter profile to show united support for Help Starts @ Home.

Help Starts @ Home ~ No One Should Be Cold Or Hungry ~ I donated to (insert item & name or organization here)

Help Starts @ Home ~ No One Should BE Cold Or Hungry ~ I donated a blanket & food today

Help Starts @ Home ~ No One Should BE Cold Or Hungry ~ I donated to
http://littleredwagonfoundation.com/

Help Starts @ Home ~ No One Should Be Cold Or Hungry ~ I volunteered in soup kitchen today

Help Starts @ Home ~ No One Should Be Cold Or Hungry ~I volunteered in a homeless shelter today

Help Starts @ Home ~ No One Should Be Cold Or Hungry ~ I volunteered at a Food Bank today

Thanks for your support! Someone somewhere will appreciate you!