GivingTuesday Archives - The Dose of Reality

Today is December 1st and that means that the holiday season is upon us in full swing. Those of you who chose to stay at home in your comfy jammies on Black Friday (like us!) may be busy this morning scouring the interwebs for Cyber Monday deals (like us!). Did you also know that tomorrow is Giving Tuesday? It is a movement designed to encourage people to give back during the holidays.

In honor of Giving Tuesday and in the spirit of wanting to really use the holidays to teach our children about the power of giving, we decided to see if we could find some suggestions of ways to help out that anyone can do.

We have talked about hunger on this blog before, so it is fitting to kick off the month of giving by talking about it again.

We are talking about food banks and pantries and the items they so desperately need, especially during the holiday season. We all instinctively reach for the canned goods at the grocery store when preparing a box to donate, but there are many items that are just as needed but often overlooked.

When we found a post listing the 10 things that food banks need but don’t really ask for, we knew we wanted to share it here. We are highlighting three of them here and will send you over to the post we found to read the full list.

1. Spices: Seems so obvious, right? I mean, when we cook at home (yes, it does happen on occasion, we swear!), we would be lost without spices. We aren’t even talking crazy things like marjoram (what even is that?!) or fennel (sounds like the place you take your pet when you go out of town!). We mean basic things like salt and pepper. Or even spices like cinnamon and oregano. So, the next time you are in the grocery store, grab some extra spices to donate to a canned food drive.

2. Toiletries: So, grocery stores will often donate surplus food, but they really have no reason to donate unsold toiletries, which means they are often in limited supply at food banks and food pantries. Items like shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste and toilet paper can genuinely make a difference in the life of someone who is struggling.

3. Socks: Gut punch moment, right? Hard not to immediately picture yourself when your toes are cold and you slip on a nice pair of cozy socks and instantly feel better. We know. Seems like something so small and insignificant, but yet, it can mean a truly good night’s sleep for the recipient.

We have already decided that we are going to take our kids one day after school to the grocery store with the full list of all 10 things needed and let them fill up the cart. We will then deliver them together to the food bank, so that our kids can be a part of giving back. Go check out this post for all the suggestions and let us know in the comments what items surprised you most!

10 Things Food Banks Need But Won’t Ask For

One of the very first blogs that we ever followed—and we mean waaaaay back in the day before we even really knew the word blog—was Rants From Mommyland. It was started by friends, Lydia and Kate, who are two of the funniest, most real, and honest moms to ever type about cozy clogs and the necessity of having plenty of boxed wine on hand. Before long, their friend Guru Louise joined in on the fun, too. Since then, these Three Musketeers of Awesomeness have been making us laugh so hard that we run the risk of peeing in our pajama jeans!

But their awesomeness doesn’t stop there. They want to help moms. Moms who are doing their best every single day to keep it all together and provide for their families under difficult circumstances.

So when they asked The Dose of Reality to join them in their Give It Up Mommyland project sponsored by Sweet Relish, we couldn’t say yes fast enough.

For those of you who don’t know about this site, sit back because we are about to change your life by giving you some sweet Sweet Relish. It’s everything you love about Pinterest with the added bonus of actual shopping. Sweet Relish lets you make lists of products from any site anywhere on the interwebs. It can be stuff you love, stuff you want to buy, stuff you want people to buy you, stuff you think is funny…anything! And it’s all kept in one central location! Did we mention that you can actually buy things? BECAUSE YOU CAN! You can also follow people and they can follow you. It’s genius. (And more than a little bit addictive, we won’t lie)

Because the ladies of Rants From Mommyland are wise beyond their “29 years”, they figured out a way that we all can help moms in need around the holidays even if we don’t have any money or time to spend. Huh? We can help even if we don’t have money??? Or time??? Whuck??

YES!!! See we told you they were awesome! It’s easy thanks to the fabulous folks at Sweet Relish!

Here is what you do: (Right now…no, not later when the kids are quiet….right now)

CLICK HERE to go to Sweet Relish and join. (It takes 20 seconds. Less time than you spent filling out the form for the Quiznos Monthly newsletter. Come on, just do it. We’ll wait here.)
Go to the search box on Sweet Relish.
Click on Search Members and type in Rants From Mommyland.
Follow Lydia B.

That’s it. By doing that you have just helped a mom in need make the holiday a little bit brighter for her family. No really, you did! For every person who follows Lydia on Sweet Relish, they will donate $1 to the Give It Up Mommyland project up to $5000. See, we told you it was easy!! You’re a rock star!

But it gets even better! Give It Up Mommyland is also hosting events to help local charities in three cities:

one in Northern Virginia/DC (where Kate & Lydia live),
one in Boston (where Guru Louise lives)
one in Charlotte, NC (Hey, that’s ours!)

If you live in or near one of these three cities and you’d like to help out by donating items or your time, email us at: [email protected] and you can be part of the fun, too.

In the end, it’s just math:

We received no compensation from Sweet Relish or Rants From Mommyland for this post. We just love to be a part of giving and hope you will join us! All hot dog Photoshopped photos and opinions are strictly ours!