#TEXTDonations - I found more TEXT Donation Numbers! Good! : ) An Easy Way To Donate to a Good Cause #SalvationArmyKettle #Donations #BCFires

#TEXTDonations - I found more TEXT Donation Numbers! 

An Easy Way To Donate to a Good Cause

Remembrance Day, Canada and the USA (I think you can do the text donations, any time - I hope that's the case : )

Text: BCFires to 20222 for a $10 Donation, to help those in need, in the BC, Canada, fires : )

You can do a quick $5 Donation to the Salvation Army Kettle Campaign - 

Text HOPE1005 to 45678 

I know there has been some controversy around The Salvation Army, but they do a lot of good, and I'm hoping, hoping, those are old thinking ideas, and hopefully they're inclusive, now, but they do help a lot of people, soo... (Canada)

For my Readers in the UK:  Text SUMMER to 70660 to give £5

(Hello, and a great big Thank You! : )

Well, I can't seem to find a good Text to Donate number for The Salvation Army in the States, in America, the USA, the US - you know what I mean - I'm trying to cover all my bases, for the search engines, as it were - lol! 

The only thing I could find was this link to the Salvation Army https://give.salvationarmyusa.org/site/SPageNavigator/national_donation_form.html

I think it would be in the best interest of The Salvation Army, and anyone else trying to raise money for any Good Cause, to set up a Text Donation, so it's easy for people to give a small donation, and if they want to give a larger donation, they can make that choice, but you know how I feel about any group asking for a huge donation, that the vast majority of people can't afford, when they would be more than happy to give a little bit, something they are able to afford... you'll get a lot more money, in the long run, and, frankly, it's a kinder approach to giving, and, isn't that more important? Yes, me tinks so, too! lol! 

AND, did you know you can transfer your Points from your various cards, or however you're collecting your Points, these days - there's a section where you can donate some of your points - that's a great idea, right? I love that idea! Something to think about, if it appeals to you, and might work out better than cash : )

Oh, and jus' so you know, if you're wondering... I'm Presbyterian, and just a girl who likes to help out, wherever I can, and this is my little platform, sooo... I do what I can, when I can! : )

Thank you for helping, too! You're the Best!! : )

I love that so many people opened their doors to help the people evacuated from Fort McMurray - 

You can Text REDCROSS to 30333 to donate $5, or 45678 to donate $10. It will be added to your cell phone bill.

And a huuge THANK YOU to all the Firefighters, and everyone who is helping out, lending a hand : ) You're The Best!

I would like to see the Text Donations include a $1.00 or $2.00 Donation

Ask for a Little, Get a Lot, Ask for a Lot, Get a Little

So, ask for a little, then it's so much easier for everyone to make a little donation : )

I can't imagine the level of fear all of these people must have felt, trying to get out of Fort McMurray, when Fort McMurray was evacuated because of the fire.

Sure makes you think about keeping your tank half-full, as much as you can - I do that just to be on the safe side, but, that is really for keeping it on the safe side. 

So kind of the truckers who brought gas out to people who ran out of gas on the highway - so scary. The level of kindness is so great, though, and we can all help everyone to get through this, rebuild their lives.

Our Hearts and Prayers go out to all those who are dealing with this terrible fire, and all its aftermath...

And then, please, if you're a smoker, or you know a smoker, switch out to Nicotine Toothpicks in your vehicle - they're cheap, they'll never burn, it would be great if no one ever tossed any cigarette butts out the window, since, really, what is that but straight-up littering, but that is a huuge risk for starting a Forest Fire, a man made forest fire, and we all know that can be easily prevented. 

#NoButtsAboutIt - Help Prevent Man Made Forest Fires 

I don't really understand why they didn't immediately call in the Martin Mars - why wouldn't they use every possible tool to put out the Fires, asap? 

You know what I have long felt a great idea when you need people to donate to a worthy cause? You need to ask a lot of people for a little bit of money, instead of a few people for a whole lot of money (although, it's still great for people with Deep Pockets to Give Big! lol!) But my point is, it is always better if you give people the opportunity to give an amount they can easily afford, to donate to a cause they feel important. One of my favorite new ways to donate is through the TEXT messages. The RedCross is the easiest, and most well-known, just text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10. And then I saw an ad on TV in early November, just a fluke that I happened to see it, and wasn't fast-forwarding through the ads, to text POPPY to 20222 to donate $5 to the Poppy Campaign, which I think is just Canadian, but there must surely be an American version of the Poppy Campaign to support Veterans. Text HERO to 50555 to donate $5, Text WWP to 90999 to donate $5 to the Wounded Warrior Project. There are so many other very worthy projects you can text your donation to, in support of Veterans in the United States. So sweet of you to help everyone out! You're the bestest! : )

Ooh, just found a really good site for information on where you can text your donation for all sorts of groups who provide help for many different types of Veterans - http://mblog.mgive.com/blog/bid/259312/Today-is-Veteran-s-Day-Help-Support-Our-Veterans-Through-Mobile-Donations  Hope that's helpful : )

What I would really like to see is if we could get all the important charities to make the donation process so much faster and easier, and affordable -- that's a reality, and it would be better if charities would deal in the reality of most peoples' lives, - I only say this, because of the 'bills' I've had from certain 'charitable groups', where I've been sent this pseudo-bill for over $5,000 - one in particular from a Church, and I was home with a baby at the time, and it was so shocking, and so offensive to me, we never went back to that church. In fact, it turned me off the church for many years, so that really back-fired on them - I'll give as I can, where I feel the money will be well-used, and not wasted or given to the wrong people - the administrators, if you know what I mean... I need to know the money is going to a cause I believe is really helping the people or animals you think it's going to, and it's not unreasonable for there to be an administrator, of course, but they shouldn't have a massive salary, that's upsetting to me.

Oh, and since I'm saying what irks me, I don't like when I've texted my donation, then you get waaay too many texts back, and I have to pay for the international texts, so that's really annoying, but the worst offense, to me, is I never get a 'Thank You' in all the texts back. It's okay to ask me to confirm my donation with a YES, but then if you are gonna text me, yet again, just say Thank You. Geez, is that so hard? Who writes the text responses?? They've never heard of Thank You?? Ugh. But other than that, I love the text donations. Fast, easy, I can support quickly and easily, the charge goes on my cell phone bill, so no worries about putting your credit card info on a site you may not have used, before... is safe and easy. Now all we have to do is figure out how to get all the charities to set up their Text Donations. Is there an easy way to do that through the phone companies? Is it a matter of choosing a word people can text (like REDCROSS or POPPY), plus the 90999, or other 5 digit similar style, then the money can be easily redirected? Hmm. Will write to Ellen, see what she can do - she's amazing with the donations. I would really like to see The Salvation Army with a text donation number, and Toys for Tots... really, it's endless who needs help. Okay, I'm gonna go see what I can do to help, too!! Helps others, gives you great karma! lol! Ailsa xox!!

*** I heard on the radio, the other day, that you can text a donation to the Salvation Army, too.  There are two different numbers, one for Canada and one for the US - to make a $5 donation to the Salvation Army in Canada, text HOPE to 45678, and  to make a donation of $10 to the Salvation Army in the US, text GIVE to 80888.  You can't go wrong with the Salvation Army, and they help so many people in need. ***

Aaaw, now here is a very sweet story for you : )  My Mum just told me that she was manning the Salvation Army Kettle, today, and a man in a business suit came up to her and asked if she liked pointsettias, and she said, yes, and he gave her one, and thanked her for helping the Salvation Army!  How sweet is that?? So here's something I hadn't thought of, before - thank the people who are ringing that Salvation Army Bell! (And maybe do your text donation to the Salvation Army, too! lol!) : ) 

Text ROBINHOOD to 50555 to donate $10 for Sandy Relief - I just saw that on Stephen Colbert's The Colbert Report, my favourite show - omg, he's sooo funny! www.robinhood.org

 Add a Giving Tree to your Holiday Party : ) http://buildyourownhousebodylife.blogspot.ca/2011/12/have-giving-tree-party.html

#Party! How to Throw a Great Party #GivingTree #FoodBank #ToyDrive #Donations #Charity #HolidayParty #Uber #ChristmasParty #Wine! #Parties

I totally built this house -- cool, eh?? lol!

How to Throw a Fabulous Party -- and you won't go mad or break the bank!

(Oh, and this is a while back... but is always a great idea, so if you're having, or going to, a lovely Holiday Party, at home, or an Office Party, please consider adding a #GivingTree - you'll have so much fun, and help lots of people in your area, too : ) 

A 'Giving Tree' is a little idea I thought of adding to our Annual Holiday Party, a few years ago, so our guests could bring a Gift for a Child in need (and hopefully a Food Item from their Cupboards, too!!) to put under our Tree. Then we took all the Gifts and Food down to the Children and Family Charitable Group. They had a whole list of Families in need in our own Community, so we knew everything was going to the right place. There were 38 Families on their List, and we had enough to give something to everyone. Great idea, eh?? Simple, and it is really effective.


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The 'Giving Tree' worked out really well -- we've given Baskets and Baskets of Toys and Gifts to charity, and a whole lot of Food Items for the Food Bank, too! How about doing that at your own Party, or your Office Party? Just think of all the Gifts (or Food or Money...) we could give if we all did this at a Holiday Party! Together we could all raise a tremendous amount of stuff that would make everyone's holiday that much better.

Make sure you get home safe, and all of your guests do, too, from your holiday parties : )

Don't wait 'til Christmas to add a Giving Tree to your Party -- be creative and change up the theme to suit the occasion... Easter Baskets at Easter time, Hearts Full of Hope at Valentine's Day (I know, that one sounds a bit hokey, but you've got plenty of time to think up something considerably better...!), or just 'Baskets of Hope' at any time of the year. Anything to add a wee bit of something for those in need, since need doesn't go away after the Holidays.

When everyone gives a wee bit, we end up with a whole lot of help. (Is that the sap I hear running from the trees, already, or is that just what I wrote?? ha,ha! Ah, well. This stuff does sound a tad pollyanna-ish, but it's necessary until the Governments have decent programs for all people to adequately Feed, House and Educate everyone in the society. Until that day comes, and I believe it will, we'll just have to band together to bridge the gap. Plus, you can have a Cheers for me at yer Party, so that'll be fun, right?!

See all the Gifts for Children in need in our community?  If you are in the States, you'll have a Toys for Tots Program near you, and that's wonderful to give to, and in Canada we have all sorts of places to donate toys and gifts to - remember the older kids, too, and I always put stuff in for the Moms - Moms need love, too! xox!

Here's my lovely daughter, Cara, in the kitchen, right before the party - lots of booze, lots of  alcohol-free drinks, too! (Man, I miss this kitchen! This is the last house I built...)

I filled the dining room table full of lovely treats, and I always set up an additional serving table (see over by the window?), with a giant Chocolate Yule Log - is that a Canadian thing, or does everyone love a Chocolate Yule Log?? Is like a log, literally, a chunk of wood, but made out of cake and icing - lots of icing! - and all very festive! lol!) and then there are treats and snacks set up on every surface in the house... coffee tables, end tables, you name it, there's a snack on it! 

So here's how to do it --

Set up your Christmas (or Chrismakah...!) Tree before the Party, and put some nice Baskets underneath the Tree. If you are using Laundry Baskets (technically, my favorite kind of Basket!), just put a Table Cloth or some nice material over the basket to brighten it up.

Put out a Few Baskets for the Toys and Gifts, and a Few Baskets for the Food Items. If they fill up during the Party, you can run and get more baskets, or just put the Toys around the Tree and use the Baskets for the Food. (Now that everyone knows we have a Giving Tree at our Annual Holiday Party, we get too many Gifts to put in the baskets, so now we just have our Guests place their gifts right under the Giving Tree, and I load them into my van after the party. Oh, I love a Generous Guest!!)

Tell Your Guests in Advance that you'll be having a Giving Tree so they have time to pick something up. When you send out your Party Invitations (I just e-mail mine -- who has time to write an actual letter these days??), be sure to include a line that says something like,

"We're having a Giving Tree Party! If you would like to bring a Toy, Gift and/or Food Item to our Party, we would love your gift! All the Toys and Food will be Donated to a Local Charity after the Party."

Your Guests will respond very well to this, and I always write it so that it is completely optional. We love a good bottle of Gin, don't get me wrong, but we can buy that for ourselves, so we love it when our Guests bring something for someone who really needs it (toys and food, not gin! ha,ha!)-- that way we all will have a much nicer Holiday Season, right?

This year, I'll be able to tell our Guests from Last Years Party how much stuff we were able to Contribute to our Local Charity -- what a great group of Friends we have! And I'm guessing that you, too, have a fabulous group of Friends and Co-Workers ... people who would be more than happy to Give to a Good Cause.

It'll literally take me a couple of weeks to get the House all set up for the Party, but it'll be worth it because it's always so much fun! Looks like we'll easily have over a 100 people, so we should get a lot of stuff to go under our 'Giving Tree' and in the Food Baskets to take down to our Local Family Charity.

I am really hoping to get the word out on that Party Idea. Just think how much stuff we could all donate if we took one item to a Party. If you are thinking about having a Party this Holiday Season, or already have one planned (or have been Invited to one and you know the Host or Hostess well enough to ask them if they would try that too...!), please consider Adding a Giving Tree to the Event. Staff Parties, too -- there must be a million Staff Parties at this time of year! Wouldn't that be a huuuge amount of stuff for Families in need?? There are all kinds of Groups in need of stuff -- the Fireman's Fund, The Salvation Army, Women's Shelters, Food Banks, Homeless Shelters, Churches...all sorts of Groups you can donate your 'Party Goods' to -- wouldn't that be sooo great! Then we can really enjoy the Holiday Season!


How to Throw a Great Informal Party:

The most important thing to know about Throwing a Great Party is that it's not as hard as it sounds. People like to Mingle and Talk, so really you just need to provide a Warm and Welcoming Place where Everyone can come and have some fun.

Here's what works well for a Winter Party -- it's all very Festive!

Everything is set up so your Guests can choose to have a Non-Alcoholic Drink, or Add a Wee Something to the Mix. It's very 'Family Friendly', and there's lots to choose from for the Designated Drivers in the Crowd.

Hot Apple Cider in a Giant Pot, Electric Wok or Crock Pot. Spiced Rum and Vanilla Rum on the Side!! Tastes like a Hot Apple Pie! Yum! (It's just Apple Juice heated up with Cinnamon Sticks thrown in for Flavor.)

A Great Big Bowl of Punch, Non-Alcoholic. Vodka or Rum on the Side. Float some Sliced Fruit in the Punch -- looks lovely! (Punch is really easy to make -- use a Frozen Punch Base, then add the required Water, then Add Gingerale or Sprite -- any light Pop -- and then add in Any Pink or Red Pop -- like a Cranberry Pop or Grapefruit Pop. Slice the Lemons, Limes, and/or Oranges and let them float on the Top of the Punch. Add in some Ice Cubes, and you're all set!

Have a Coffee and Hot Chocolate 'Station'. Baileys or other nice Liqueur that goes well with Coffee or Hot Chocolate on the Side. I just make a Big Pot of Coffee, then have more Filters with the Coffee in them, all ready to go if you need to make more... and Two Kettles Set up So people can make themselves a Hot Chocolate or Tea, if they are so inclined. Set out Hot Chocolate, Tea, Cream, Sugar and lots of Teaspoons. You can use Throw-Away Cups, or Regular Mugs, if you have lots of them.


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Have a Wine Bar -- I just Set out a Nice Variety of Wine and Lots of Glasses. You know what is the most popular Drink at our Parties (next to the Hot Apple Cider, where I hang out!)? My friend, Steve, calls it 'Sody Pop Wine', so now I do, too, and it's aptly named, since it's pretty much like tasty pop all liquored up! ha,ha! It comes in about a million Fruit Flavors (yes, I am exaggerating, but only to keep myself amused as I write this...), and you can get it at any Liquor Store. It's generally under $7.00 a bottle, so you can pick up quite a variety of Flavours. Black Current and Strawberry are the most popular at our Parties. Sadly enough, we buy this by the Case, now! It's light and deeelicious!

Have a Bar Stocked with Hard Liquor. Mix on the Side -- Coke, Pepsi, Gingerale ... and remember to have the Diet Versions of each of those Drinks to offer to your Guests.

Lots and Lots of Ice!

Tons of Finger Foods -- Treats of All Sorts, like Cookies and Cake Squares, Cheese & Veggie Platters, Shrimp Rings, Tortilla Chips 'n Salsa, Regular Chips ... whatever appeals to you. Save yourself a whole lot of time by just buying these already made -- I swing by Costco and M&M's before the Party to pick up a nice variety of Bars and Finger Foods, then it's just a matter of cutting and putting them on Platters. You can use regular Plates (Small and Large) to present the Cookies & Cake Bars -- just place them in a circle on the plate, and then go up one or two more layers, getting smaller with each layer. I use Cutting Boards for the Cheese & Crackers -- fast and easy.

Optional: Some 'Real Food' -- I like to Serve Chili and Rolls. This year, I'm going to skip the 'Real Food' thing. Our Big Holiday Party is always during the day (From 2:00 - 7:00 pm), so providing a 'Real Meal' isn't really necessary). I do keep the number for the Pizza Place handy in case anyone stays late, or I'll whip up a big batch of Pasta.

For the Kids (we like 'Family Friendly' Daytime Parties...), I set up their Treats and Drinks Downstairs. I've found that Individually Wrapped Treats -- Chips, Chocolate Bars, Candies -- work out well. I set out a big box of Chips -- the ones you get for the kids' lunches. Beside that I have a few cases of Pop, all different Varieties. It's much easier for Kids to help themselves to what they like, and you don't have to worry about germs being spread in a big bowl of Chips. Set up the TV so they can Watch Movies on the Big Screen (and have them all ready to go...), set up a Games Area with a few good Games, and have some Music available, too if you have Older Kids at your Party.

That's about it! Not too hard to put together -- lots of nice Decorations, Napkins, Glasses, 'N All...Don't worry too much about Your Party. Your Guests are there to see you, chat with each other, and maybe get in a wee dance, if you happen to go down that path. It'll all work out, and if you have a Giving Tree, you'll end up having a great time and have lots of great stuff to Donate to a Local Charity, too! See, it's easy shmeasy!

Now, these are specific to Our Parties...but see what will work for you : )

Our Pool Table is Downstairs, so I would imagine there will be a steady group of Men (mostly...) playing Pool for the good part of the day, so they can keep an eye on the kids!! YaaHoo!!

Treats for the Children are best if they are individually wrapped, to cut down on any 'cross-contamination', and if you know or have any kids, I think you'll know just what I mean ...! Ha,ha,ha! So Chips, Canned Pop, Small Chocolate Bars (they're eaten before they melt!!) ... it's easy and the kids will love it. Although, one year, we did have an 'incident' where one small child actually ran their hands all covered in chocolate along the carpet -- hard to believe. And the parents didn't say a word, which was unpleasant, so think about who your guests are before you put out the chocolate! And don't be afraid to 'alter' you Guest List for the next party, if you want to maintain your sanity at any Future Parties!

So the big key to the Success of an Informal Party is to have everything pretty much 'Serve It Yourself', that way even if the Host or Hostess has had 'the Mostest', if you know what I mean, the Party can still go on and everyone will have a great time. It's just a whole lot more relaxing for everyone if people can just mingle around freely, and eat and drink whatever they like.

You know a good name for this kind of Party?? A Mingle and Jingle Party! Ha,ha,ha!

So, pass this Giving Tree Idea along to your Friends, Neighbors, Pastors, Teachers ... the more people we get in on this, the more stuff we can give! Hey, we can all take pictures of our Giving Trees, and then I can post them on my Site! Then we can all check out your Living Room, too! Now, that'll be fun!

Party On, Baby! Ailsa  xox!!

Make sure everyone who is drinking at your Party has a Designated Driver. We have a lot of Neighbors who can just walk over, so they're the lucky ones! I always make sure I have lots of great drink choices that are non-alcohlic so everyone can have fun, and everybody stays safe.


Personal Breathalizer Enter Code AILSA for a Special Discount for My Readers!So here's a great thing to get for yourself or for someone you care about to let them know when they've reached their limit with Alcohol at your Party or wherever you (or they) find themselves out Drinking. This one little device could save many, many lives and countless injuries, not to mention preventing someone from driving under the influence and getting a D.W.I. (D.U.I. in Canada).  http://alcoholcontrols.com/breataldet.html

Get some Music for yo' Party!

** That's my big house from when I was married... I sure miss that house!  Looking at my old living room, which was sooo gorgeous, makes me want to build that house, again... but the next time I build it, I want to 'move it around', in that I want to build the 'West Wing' over the garage, this next time... so a higher roof-line, probably a 4 car garage (why not?? lol!), maybe more of an angle in the house.. we'll see what the Lot loks like, when I get around to building another house (soon, I hope!! lol!)


Happy Holidays!!  Ailsa :) xox

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