Today is Sunday, April 22nd, 2012; Karen's Korner #2300

Wow! Another milestone of Karen's Korners - 2300; think of it!
 
This is an appropriate time to celebrate after just arriving home from our adventures in Washington D.C. and 'making a difference'!
 
While we were honored to be part of an elite group of national winners, we learned of others who made a 'difference' in big and small ways. Finding a need and then working to fill it.
 
A group of about a dozen Girl Scouts and their leaders from Kentucky handmade 450 greeting cards, using proceeds from their annual cookie sales. They then delivered them to elderly people in their community, working to create and establish long-term relationships.
 
A church in New York thought that some community residents might not have enough resources to keep their properties in good repair and appearance so they created a 'tool library' so individuals and families could 'check out' tools which they used only rarely.
 
An eight-year-old Texas gal liked to volunteer at a local animal shelter but didn't like it when she learned what happens to dogs and cats which couldn't be adopted. She set up a entry on facebook called "Pennies for Pets" and started toward her goal of raising awareness and $2,500 for their local Animal Rescue League, early in October. The 'real day' of Saturday, October 22 (Make A Difference Day is always the fourth Saturday of October), she spent seven hours collecting 'pennies' at a local WalMart store and when all of her efforts were done she had contributions of  $2,750 to help rescue pets needing a new home.
 
The single honoree of the "All Star" program (individuals/groups who have previously been awarded nationally) was a young man from the Atlantic coast. Once again this year, he decided to take young underprivileged groups of kids fishing, thus helping them learn the sport of fishing and how to contribute to their families' being able to feed themselves, both now and in the future.
 
And the list went on, but you get the idea. Not entirely impossible or difficult. To learn even more, check out the web site:  www.makeadifferenceday.com .
 
As I said before we left, Clarion's entry was unique, as the Marys & Marthas of which I am a part, partnered with 24 groups, businesses and organizations. Each group or individual did what they wanted to do to 'make a difference' and we submitted the entry together with more than 1200 people participating and working over 2,200 hours in the few days surrounding the last fall's event.
 
Now we have $10,000 to reinvest in people, organizations and non-profit groups. Monday begins our quest to do that. We have a list:  more than fifty entities will be given a share of our 'wealth', directly helping about 200 people and indirectly, it will help or touch hundreds, maybe a thousand or more.
 
It's a 'God thing'. He knows about seeds and plants; sowing, planting, and reaping a harvest.

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