Small Things Make Big Difference

Thought Provoking Thursday

Do you believe that Small Things Make Big Difference?

small things make big difference

If you were given a chance to help someone else, how will you do it and who will you give it to?

This is the challenge that Amee aka MadameDeals gave to us this week. This is called the Envelope Project! The goal is to take a moment to help someone else. Amee gave us each $10 to give it to someone and report back on what we did and how it made us feel. We want to show you how small things make big difference, as long as we have a giving heart.

Small Things Make Big Difference – Envelope Project:

Amee

I had a $10 thought. What could $10 really do? I mean it is just ten dollars. Well I found a way to make $10 stretch to help  at least 21 people. What did I do? I offered ten people the chance to help someone else. I asked, “What would they do?” I was amazed that most of the people that responded wanted to do more for less.  They wanted to do something and then encourage others to do something for someone else, this just proves that small things make big difference. I will share some of the ideas my ten new pay it forward warriors had.

Warrior #1

“I am heading downtown (live in Cleveland) here in a bit to take my son down to the aquarium. There are plenty of homeless people scattered on the street sitting on the vents trying to stay warm. I will give the dollar you give and also one of my own to a person that we see sitting on the vents.
It is cold outside, $1 is not a lot to but to these men and woman it is $1,000. It could buy them something warm to eat/drink.
This is very kind of you.”  That is two people whose day has been made.

Warrior #2

“I am going to help someone because when my husband passed it was the support of my friends that saved me”

That is another two people impacted cost $2 so far

Warrior #3

“My friend Mandy she’s a mommy of two been through a lot both her girls are miracle babies. I have been trying to make it to Natalia to see her but don’t have enough gas and can’t afford to mail out stuff I have been saving for her.  Her husband is her caregiver and they struggle every month. They don’t have a vehicle and rely on family which can be a blessing or a curse. She moved back to the area after living on the coast which made it near impossible to make her doctors appointments. If I had the money I would send her a safe vehicle to get to her appointments. I’m hoping even a dollar can make her day. ”  That is another two people helped cost $3

Warrior #4

“I would use the $1 to buy a hot cup of coffee for a homeless person to help warm them up. I live in KY and it is very cold here this winter. I appreciate all you do for me and the rest of your fans. You are a great Angel.”  That is another two people impacted total cost $4

Warrior #5

“I would help help people who are going through chemo at this time of year snacks at the chemo center really make the time go faster.  I should know just finished up 18 months of treatments for breast cancer.  It would feel good to give back after all I have been through.”  That is another two people touched total cost $5

Warrior #6

I think I am going to either give it to a random person while at Helping Hands a thrift store or 25cent store as we locals call it, or to the store itself. There proceeds go back into the community to help the less fortunate.

Two or more people helped total cost $6

Warrior #7

“What I will do with that $1.00 is add 9 to it and share your status on my FB and do the same challenge and hopefully my friends will do the same and pay it forward!”

That is 10 more people at least total cost $7 out of my pocket.

Warrior #8

“It’s so hard for us all to be caught up in LIFE or what we’ve constructed our lives to consist of and so easy to forget the true meaning of being human.  Being human means making mistakes and learning from them yes, but more importantly it means that we are connected to one another in a delicate balance that shouldn’t be tampered with.  We should nurture ththe link that says we all will need help from time to time so why not recognize our own weakness in the struggles of others.

My dollar would go to helping with one of the outreaches my church works with and would be matched by 10.  I volunteer with (2) groups at Liberty Church, one is a homeless outreach that cooks meals and prepares “goody bags” then delivers them to the homeless throughout the city a couple of times a week.  the other is a human trafficking mission where we partner with other churches in the area to reach out to women and men who are caught up in prostitution through trafficking.  It’s not us going out there to stuff Jesus down their throats, it simply us passing out care packages to say you know what, if no one else tells you, we care and want you to have a better life.  These bags have hygiene products, snacks, information for help, and yes, a little prayer and though they may not be packed with millions of dollars, ultimately have to power to change to way the people we encounter look at their lives.

There are so many people whose lives need to be touched by human kindness and I know $1 may not seem like a lot, but one of my favorite quotes is, ‘My life amounts to no more than one drop in a limitless ocean. Yet what is any ocean, but a multitude of drops?’- David Mitchell

Thank you so much for the opportunity to continue to help others.”

Two more people helped total cost $8

Warrior #9
“I will buy someone who is working the day after Christmas/ holding a sign on the corner  a hamburger or a bottle of water since it’s going to be in the 80s here today.”

That is two more people and another $1 equals 9 dollars

Warrior #10
“Amee, I  do not need your dollar. I am grateful for the inspiration that you provided me today to help others. I am going to help someone today and everyday from now on”

Number of people helped countless total cost $9

I gave the last dollar to my children and tomorrow they are going to think of something nice to do for someone else. That means 3 more people will learn the value of giving.

Here are some Good Deed Quotes written by our readers.

This all started with an idea I had about leaving envelopes on cars. I figured since I can’t be everywhere I would like to be I would find helpers all over this country. You can read about my pay it forward envelope idea.

Rachelle

Small Things Make Big Difference: Paying it forward in Aisle 3

Well it happened, I found myself on Christmas day at the only store opened in town, Walgreens. Me and everyone else in my entire town (it seemed like!) was there, grabbing the forgotten milk, trash bags, and even last minute gifts! I myself had forgotten milk, ice, and toothpicks. I had to stop by the toys just to check if there was anything else I could grab for my little girl (as if she didn’t already get enough ha!). There were quite a few people in the toy isle, but one little girl stuck out to me. She was about 5 or 6, and clinging to a Monster High Doll while saying Santa must have forgotten that she wanted it for Christmas. Her mom tried to scoot her along by telling her that she couldn’t afford to get it today. The poor little girl looked heartbroken, and the mom looked like she had enough stress chasing after a sad little girl, and a very hyper toddler. The little girl made her way back to the toy aisle, looking at that same doll. I decided that my 5 year old was blessed with enough presents, and it was time to pay it forward. I approached the little girl and told her Santa told me to give this to her, and handed her a $20 bill. That little girls face lit up as she grabbed the doll and ran to her mom to show her. I quickly scooted off before she could tell her mom who gave it to her. I saw that little girl skipping happily to her car on the way out, then it really felt like Christmas 🙂

Gwen

In the area where I live there are not many chain restaurants. Instead we are surrounded by smaller self-owned restaurants which my family and I prefer to visit anyways. At one of our favorite local restaurants we have a favorite waitress. Over the the past year we have learned she is a single mom with a son. She is always up beat and knows to save my husband some of their famous Rice Pudding whenever we come in. We visited the other day for dinner and she literally ran across the restaurant to claim us. We all laughed as the owner looked a little stunned.As we were checking out, I thought of how blessed we had been the past year. I added $20 to her 25% tip and we left before she could notice. I have never personally waitressed but know many who have. It is a hard job and many people don’t tip enough for the service they receive. I hope that my little extra gift helped make up for those who may not have been able to give. I believe that small things make big difference and I try to teach my children to give with your heart and God will honor you for it.

Netski

One of the advocacy closest to my heart is child rights and since college days I’ve been an avid supporter of UNICEF. Years ago I did volunteer works for UNICEF’s programs and it opened my eyes and heart to the realities of life not just in the community near me but around the world. That’s why, when Amee asked us to do our envelope project, what came up to my mind is to spread the info of this good cause to all of you. There are of course several people in my community that I wanted to surprise with, but then I wanted to let you know that no matter where you are or how busy you may be, if you really want to help there is a way. And no matter how much you give, small things make big difference.

Do you know that for just $12 you can already help send 1 child back to school with a back pack and basic school supplies? That’s one school year for one child!

Or for as little as $15 a month (50¢ per day) you can help provide 12 packets of high energy biscuits for malnourished children? Or for $30 a month ($1.00 per day) you can provide 33 children a course of anti-malarial treatment, a disease that is highly treatable when diagnosed, but which can be fatal if left untreated?

Yes a $10 can make a difference!

This is what I did with the $10 that I got, I donated it to UNICEF. I personally witnessed how UNICEF provides help to children in need that’s why I’m confident and happy to know that the $10 will be put to good use. And that somewhere, there’s a child that will have a smile on his/her face because of this donation.

If we can just spare $10 or even less a month or may be just give once a year, that is an opportunity to change at least one child’s life.

UNICEF accepts Paypal/Credit Card donations, you can choose to give monthly or feel free to donate whatever amount you want. You can donate wherever you are in the world. No matter how busy you are, it will only take less than 5 minutes to donate, you don’t even have to leave your home or work.

Aside from UNICEF, please also check out Red Cross, World Vision and Habitat for Humanity. If you have other suggestions please leave a comment below.

unicef

Here at MadameDeals, we hope that we were able to inspire you to lend a hand to people in need. We’re not doing this to boast but instead our goal is to inspire. Our site reaches thousands of people daily and we believe that if we can touch even just one person’s heart to be able to give, then we’re successful in our goal. With a simple act of kindness, we can change the world and make a difference!

Remember that Small Things Make Big Difference!