KINDNESS OPPORTUNITY #16: Donating Items to Salvation Army

You may have a bunch of stuff in your attic and closets that you want to get rid of when you do your spring cleaning this year.  Let me encourage you to donate these items to Salvation Army.  According to Money.CNN.com, the Salvation Army spends 82% of donations on aid/charity overall.  This is a much higher percentage than Goodwill.  

One of our local Salvation Army family stores on Kirby Whitten supports the area's Adult Rehabilitation Center.  According to their website, "For over 100 years The Salvation Army’s Adult Rehabilitation Centers and Harbor Light programs have provided spiritual, social, and emotional assistance for men and women who have lost the ability to cope with their problems and provide for themselves. Centers offers residential housing, work, and group and individual therapy, all in a clean, wholesome environment.

The physical and spiritual care that program participants receive prepares them to re-enter society and return to gainful employment. Many of those who have been rehabilitated are reunited with their families and resume a normal life.

Each program participant is provided with a clean and healthy living environment, good food, work therapy, leisure time activities, group and individual counseling, spiritual direction, and resources to develop life skills and a personal relationship with God as provided by Jesus Christ."

Random Act of Kindness # 21:   
April 9, 2016

I spent the day today cleaning out my recently deceased mother-in-law's kitchen cabinets.  Not knowing what to do with much of the stuff, my husband suggested donating to the Salvation Army on Kirby Whitten. 

The Family Store at this location only accepts donations until 5 pm in Saturdays.  I barely made the window.  But as soon as I pulled up to the donation drop-off area, I was greeted by a very friendly gentleman who unloaded my car for me, carried my donations into the warehouse to be sorted, and thanked me for my donation.  It feels good knowing that money made from the sale of these items will go to such a good and worthy cause.  

Kindness Opportunity #15: Help Beth in Her Fight Against Sarcoma!

Random Act of Kindness # 19:

Beth Ingram is a co-worker and very dear friend of mine.  She has had a pretty rough year.  At 33 years old, she is 27 weeks pregnant with her second child (her first is just two years old) and was recently diagnosed with a very rare and aggressive type of sarcoma.  The initial cancer was discovered in a fast-growing tumor on her hip.  It was surgically removed.  Unfortunately, the cancer has now spread into her lungs.  She starts chemo next week.  After her little boy is born, she will continue with a more aggressive form of chemo in the hopes that the cancer in her lungs will shrink.  


As you can imagine, Beth has accumulated quite a few medical bills.  And since short-term disability payments are typically a fraction of a person's regular salary, her everyday bills are piling up, as well.

It is because of this that Beth's friends and family are banding together with her to make these awesome yellow paracord bracelets in order to help Beth and her husband raise the money they need while she is fighting this horrible cancer.  Yellow is the official color for sarcoma awareness.

There are 3 different sizes of bracelets:  Men's (9 inch circumference); Women's (8 inch circumference); and child's (7 inch circumference).  The cost to purchase a bracelet is just $6.  

I bought my bracelet!  Here is where you can buy yours: https://www.facebook.com/groups/214227825592007/

Kindness Opportunity #14 - Merge Memphis Food Truck

Merge Memphis is a non-profit 501c3 organization whose passion is to feed the hungry, clothe the needy and house the homeless.  The organization's founder, Sherry Segraves McClure, makes some of the most delicious grilled-cheese sandwiches you've ever put in your mouth.  Because of Sherry's love to cook and feed the hungry, she and her husband, Keith, purchased and began operating a food truck. The money raised from meal purchases goes toward helps to fund the organization's charities.

Random Act of Kindness #18:
April 1, 2016

In addition to their main charities, Merge Memphis decided to raise funds to support a co-worker and very dear friend of mine who is currently battling cancer.  This is how many of my other co-workers came to learn of Merge Memphis and all they do for our wonderful community.  In a show of support for our friend and a show of gratitude to Merge Memphis, a few of my co-workers and I went to the Merge Memphis food truck today, armed with many orders our staff.    

When we arrived, Sherry and Keith were hard at work - taking orders and grilling up what turned out to be the most delicious grilled-cheese sandwich I have ever tasted!  Oh, and did I mention the Churro Ice Cream Sandwich?  That's right!  A literal churro cookie coated with cinnamon and sugar, stuffed with vanilla/cinnamon ice cream!  Need I say more!?!!

If you're out and about at lunchtime one day and happen to see the Merge Memphis food truck, I highly recommend stopping by!  Not only will you be eating tasty treats at an affordable price, but you'll be supporting those who support those in our community who can't support themselves.

Merge Memphis Food Truck Menu 

The Truck that GIVES Back

The Merge Memphis BBQ $7.00
Cheddar cheese melted around great Memphis Sauced BBQ . Grilled perfectly on Local Bakery Texas toast

The Ultimate Cheese $7.00
A combination of Cream Cheese, shredded Colby-Jack, Montery Jack ,and Cheddar on perfectly grilled local Bakery Texas Toast
ask for our new Jalapeño Bread(just a little tangy)

The Sloppy Mike $7.00
A Special Merge Memphis Sloppy Joe Ground Beef with One slice of American Cheese and one slice of Munster Cheese grilled on Texas Toast

The "CBR" $7.00
Thinly sliced Chicken Breast , Colby Jack Cheese, with Bacon and Ranch Dressing on grilled local Bakery Texas Toast

Kids Grilled Cheese $5.00
American Cheese melted perfectly on local Bakery Texas Toast

The Chocolate Elvis 1/2 3.00 Whole $6.00
Reese Peanut Butter Cup and sliced Banana melted between Muenster cheese on grilled Sourdough bread (Great sweet treat)

The Churro Ice Cream Sandwich $3.00
Churro Cookie coated with Cinnamon & Sugar
With vanilla /cinnamon Ice Cream stuffed inside

Add Bacon to any Sandwich $1.00

Assorted Lays Chips $1.00

Drinks: Coke products / bottled water $1.00 

To learn where Merge Memphis Food Truck will be next, follow them on Facebook here: Merge Memphis