But for those of you who haven't, here's an announcement:
This is my first year on MFC and I have noticed that a lot of models donate to charity. I have done a not-so-formal version of this with the Hobo Bags but I really want to do more. There are a million and one charities out there begging for your money, especially as we start to get closer to the holidays and here I am, advocating yet another.
Please read on if you are interested in helping me collect Tokens for Shoe Boxes!
Huh?
THE W's
Who- US!
You, me, and anyone else who wants to join us, not to mention the countless churches and schools that are involved in this every year!What- OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD!
Watch this video!!and general info here: www.samaritanspurse.org
Where- My chat room!
If you are inspired to do so, donate to this charity directly.
If not, come have some fun with me on MFC, make me a happy girl, and help me donate. I will be hosting hopefully 3 cam-a-thons where all tokens earned will go towards my shoe box fund.
Our first Bating for Boxes cam-a-thon is scheduled for September 27th
When- Now until November 18th
You can tip any time between now and November 18th. September 27th is our first Bating for Boxes and all tokens earned during the cam-a-thon will go towards building shoe boxes.
Why- Because...
I've seen about as many charity promotions as you have but sometimes things just really "touch my heart." I have a big fat soft spot right below my sternum for children, especially those who are abused or fostered or live unnecessarily hard lives. Those puppy and kitten commercials are sad and sometimes a little gross but they don't get me going the way I do when I think about kids.I don't pity them, I don't feel guilty about my life being better than theirs. I can't really explain the "feeling" that I get when I encounter these situations. I can only explain it as a burning mushy feeling that comes right out of my soul. I understand that not everyone has these reactions but I do. It is beautiful and inspiring and un-explainable-ly cool to realize that despite the things that humanity has endured, it has endured. These children grow and mature and survive despite the pressures that seem to be set solely against them. The feeling I have about it is similar to what I call inspiration, that feeling I get when I finally grasp a concept at school, when I get a new idea and stay up till 4am to put it in paint, when I've stressed for two weeks about a test and just aced it.
It may seem strange that I get inspired when I witness human suffering, but it's not that. It's the fact that I do see it. People went out before me and saw it and even though the world we live in sucks sometimes and it seems like no one cares, much less notices, I know that somewhere someone has found them. They are seen and understood. The resources that they lack are so beyond physical and the help they receive is minuscule compared to their need. But it's there. They are seen. Someone cares. Someone is moved to put their lives aside, even for a moment, and join them in their pain. I want to be a part of that.
The care and love and empathy that we have in our hearts for our fellow human is so beyond any physical aid we could offer. That love is big. That love caused someone to get up and act upon it. This energy is called different names, inspiration, love, god, the soul... It's big, you guys, and I believe it is what makes us who we are and I don't want to miss it...
ANYWAY, I've been involved in this charity since I was 16 years old and every year when I see the first seasonal promotion, I cry. I like it because it is easy and it is fun. I want you guys to participate with me because I want you to share in the gratification of putting cute little stuffed doggies in a box for some stranger who will probably appreciate it more than you or I will ever understand. The year before last, I skipped buying a text book and sat in the library all semester so I could send one box to "boy 2-4." I hope his little yellow work boots fit. This year I have a job that is funner and pays more than any job I've had before and I've got 2 to 400 people who I consider friends of varying degrees who visit me every night and often sacrifice minor comforts so they can make me smile and play my games and make my life just a little bit better. My life is fucking awesome. Help me share that.
How- I have a few suggestions.
Watch my video about Tokens for Shoe Boxes, you're probably tired of reading...
1)Tip me! and don't forget your 'shoe box' tip note.
2) Donate directly! Find out how: www.samaritanspurse.org
3)Visit during the first Bating for Boxes cam-a-thon, Sept 27th.
4) Tell your MFC friends and tell your favorite models! (be polite and discreet, models need their rooms to focus on them and not me or my drive when they are working, let them know privately or offline)
5) Models, you can simply mention it in your room! or, if you want to do your own mini token drives, you could raise money for a gift card that you will buy! All tokens coming from you or your room in this way will have your name on them AND you can benefit from cam score points and rank on the site when you earn the tokens for this. Also, just stop by during the cam-a-thon. When we act like a supportive community it is easier and funner for members to get involved.
FAQ
Here is a smarmy and negative question I have already received a few times, so let me get it out of the way for you guys before you start thinking you're smart or sumtin."Why can't these people do nice things just because they are nice, why does it always have to be for jeee-zus?"
This is my basic answer, "I believe helping children is the right thing to do, it is the kind and sympathetic thing. The Bible also 'happens' to say the same thing*. Doesn't change my belief, it just means more people are backing me up."
What I really hear when you ask this question is, "I hate religion and it makes me mad that other people have found some peace in their lives and that they have found a reason for existence and a reason for treating other people nice."
It doesn't matter why we do it. All that matters is that it gets done. Also, you are opening up a huge philosophical discussion that people (much smarter than you or I) have been asking each other and arguing about for longer than I have been alive. That question is "can morality exist without religion" and to answer that question, we would have to spend many years studying philosophy and theology to simply define the terms of this question, probably some psychology and sociology to understand more about human behavior and motivations for that behavior, publish some papers... write some books... look inside ourselves... If you want an answer to that question, google it.
But before you get all negative, think of it this way. This is a fully functioning and highly successful charity established by people who happen to have a specific religious view, I couldn't have started it myself and neither could you. Some one has made it super easy and really fun to donate and to feel good about ourselves. Okay, there.
Another favorite question,
"If I help you, doesn't MFC just get half the money anyway?"Um. No. I get anywhere from 40%-80% of the actual cash amount you pay for a token, per token you chose to give me. That percentage really depends on how many tokens you buy at a time. But you knew that, so what are you really asking me?
If you are going to buy tokens on MFC then you are going to do it. And if you give them to me you are giving me 5 cents per token every time, every token. MFC overtly has very little to do with those choices.
By starting this token drive I am agreeing to taking your nickle that you have so graciously bestowed upon me and committing it to my shoe box fund. This shoe box fund exists with or without you or MFC... By tipping towards my cause you are demonstrating your support and effort to encourage me in this endeavor of making shoe boxes. You are also giving me .05 US dollars. This can be fun and you get the opportunity to make me smile and watch as these nickles begin to pile up, followed by boxes full of objects representing my human emotion and energy to be sent out to the little childrens of the world! You get to be a part of that. I get to be a part of that. It's magic! Can we please stop talking about stuff that is better left to the accountants?
"I want every dollar to count and I can't do that effectively by purchasing tokens. Are you accepting gift cards for this shoe box fund?"Yes! The due date for gift cards is going to be one week before our box due date. Please submit your electronic gift cards by November 11th. You can send them to princess_zoe@yahoo.com WITH the explicit message that these monies are to be used for shoe boxes. I will be shopping at wal-mart and target (no amazon since there's extra shipping time/charges) and any gifts from these venues will be appreciated and used appropriately.
"I don't want anything to do with you or your wandering uterus but that video has inspired me. How do I donate directly?"Please visit the charity's website www.samaritanspurse.org Local churches all over the US and other places (Canada and the UK, I believe) do shoe box drives and it is really easy to get involved outside me. I would encourage you to do so!
Let me know if you've got any more questions! You will continue to be updated on this so don't worry, I'm not done yet!
*James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion
before God and the Father is this: to visit
orphans and widows in their trouble...
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