Thank you to Medtronic for sponsoring today’s post and inspiring me to give back to my community!
We all want to make a difference in the communities that we live in. We also usually have an excuse for why we aren’t doing it right now. Often it’s a shortage of time or money. Sometimes it’s because we compare the things others are doing and think that what we would do wouldn’t make enough of an impact. It’s important to remember that we all have something valuable to give. Sometimes it is something tangible we give to others and other times it’s the way we inspire others that is the greater gift.
Medtronic has selected 10 honorees from around the world, each of whom has overcome a life-changing medical challenge, such as heart disease, scoliosis or diabetes, and has realized the true brevity of life. These people had every excuse to give up, leave their troubles at the hospital and try to return to their lives before their crisis. But they didn’t. They realized that they have been granted a second opportunity to live each day to the fullest. Each of these honorees has contributed their best lesson for overcoming excuses and giving back.
Embrace What’s Difficult – Samantha Peterson
One of the lessons that impacted me as I read through this was from Samantha Peterson. Her lesson, Embrace What’s Difficult, stuck out to me because so often we push away the things that don’t come easily to us. It is when we embrace difficulties that we become stronger people and inspire those around us. In the process we all become stronger. You can read the stories behind all the honorees lessons here.
There are little ways we can all give back and make a difference, starting now. I have so many great friends with generous hearts and big ideas. I know some of you could do something amazing and Medtronic wants to help you. We are partnering to give one lucky reader $100 to make a difference in their community. Wanna Win? Read on for details.
How do you give back to your community?
Just tell me in a comment below and win a $100 Visa gift card to give back in your community. You are free to use the money to benefit your community any way you choose. Enter now – Giveaway ends 12/30 11:59pm!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I drop some money in the Red Kettles when I’m shopping and we we donated some supplies for a Christmas basket for an immigrant family this year.
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We have a community portable storage unit just for donations of clothes, toys etc. My very good friend is in charge of this and she has been working diligently on cleaning up doll clothes and and putting together packages. I’m going to put together baked good baskets to go with the packages she is handing to kids in need.
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I give back by volunteering with local community organizations! I’ve been a Little League volunteer for over 14 years now.
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I would actually donate to the organization in my town that picks up litter that I volunteer for sometimes. It is completely volunteer and they spend their own money on supplies like trash bags.
We give back with food drives and gift giving for those less fortunate. I love opportunities to give back.
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We donate to the food pantry that helps our community. It’s at our parish.
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We give back in a number of ways. Most recently we donated a bunch of food to our local animal shelter. We also done food to our food pantry whenever we can.
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I made up goody baskets for both adults and children and I will be dropping them off at the fire house in my community for them to give to families in need for Christmas (:
I will donate the card to our local Hempfield Rec Assoc. To help cover Health memberships for those unable to pay the full amount.
We love to visit our local animal shelter to walk the dogs an play with the cats. I would purchase things they need such as bedding or food.
We are going to donate to local shelters and food shelves , also adopt a family to help with holiday wishes.
I give back by being a sectary at the church I attend, I sit on the board for a non profit that helps parents with specials needs children. I also am a parent mentor and help run a local support group for parents who have children with rare genetic disorders
I love that they are encouraging people to give back. I work at a nursing home so all year long I look for presents for our residents. I love that they still get excited about Santa (my husband) visiting them every year!
This is such a great thing that Medtronic has done! I have read all of the stories and they are all amazing in their own ways. Great giveaway.
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I will teach my son about helping the community be doing random good things in the community. That way it spreads to the next generation
I donated food and clothing to families who were in need..
I would give food to the homeless or carol in a nursing home to help put smiles on peoples faces.
I’m donating items to the church that can be passed along to kids in need (coats, blankets, toys.) There are so many organizations in our city, and it’s hard to choose just one to focus on.
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I will donate to toys for tots.
I dontate to my food bank when they have the big Food Bank drive every year. I also buy a gift for a needy child, and I donate items to the Women’s shelter in my town!
I would give back to my community by buying canned and shelf stable foods to donate to our local shelters. I’d also like to buy some snack foods to give to our local sheriff’s office for officers working long hours and don’t have time to take a break.
I give back to my community by routinely donating items like food and clothing to those in need at shelters and organizations that collect such items for others.
Fantastic post! It’s especially important to give back during this time of the year, that’s for sure!
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I will donate food and clothes at our local shelters.
We donate to our local food bank and donate to toys for tots.
I would buy hygene items for our local homeless ministry
I volunteer at my church, scouts, high school marching band and several other places. I give of my TIME a LOT.
And this Christmas time our family has adopted an angel tree family to take care of for Christmas!
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I give back in my community by donating clothes year around, we also have been collecting coats and donating them to those in need, we want to be sure everyone stays warm this winter.
Delivering canned goods is probably my favorite way to give in my community. I also like donating toys!
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I Give Back To My Community By Volunteering And Donating.
I try to give back to my community however I can. From volunteering at the library, to donating alpo to the local animal shelter.
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I adopt a family each year, So, the money will go to them for their needs
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I would use it toget food for a local food pantry.
I donate food, money, and clothes to my local shelter.
I will donate food to my local food pantry.
This is a great giveaway that will ease the financial burden for some deserving family this holiday season. I love the thought of paying it forward.
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$100 can go a long way to those in need! I would donate to our food bank.
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I would donate dog and cat food to our local pet shelter
I love to do things for people who are least expecting it. I like to make care packages for people in my grandma’s nursing home. I buy nice cards, treats, and bring pictures drawn by my sons. It would brighten their day.
We donate both money and clothing to many different community events. I do feel we could and should do more, though and that is one of my goals for next year.
We donate to our local food bank every month. I think it is very important to give back to your community whenever you can.
We give to a lot of charities — there are so many worthy ones. This is a really great program!
Lois Alter Mark recently posted…pure. handcrafted. moxxie.
I donate to the food banks often and have also taken time to help out at schools in the area with drives and other volunteer options. It is wonderful to give back.
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I usually donate quite a bit and go to salvation army with some things to donate as well!
i give to my local food bank regularly and donate to charities that care for the elderly in hospices in our area.
I will donate money to Operation Food Search.
I really should do more. We like to give warm clothes to children in need.
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I like to make fabric flower accessories for disadvantaged girls, troubled teens, homeless women and home bound seniors. In the winter, I sew fleece mittens for the mitten drives. I could use more supplies!
I give back by buying local and supporting local businesses
This is such a great message. We sponsored the local toy drive this year, and provided holiday goodies to the seniors in the community.
I donate my time twice a month to help at a local food kitchen.
Donate money & clothes.
Thanks for hosting this giveaway! We give back to our community because we feel it’s important to instill these values in our children. We donated to a stuffed animal drive and to the Salvation Army Kettles this Christmas season.
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I really love this post. Giving back is very important. We give back foods and cloths for an organization. We should teach this good manner to our children as well, as they learn from what we do. I love the giveaway as well, which would encourage every one to give back.
Giving MONEY is one thing, but we also sometimes need to DO. Pitch in and lend a hand.
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I buy Donation Food and the Grocery Store
i like to donate to goodwill
I would love to give back in my community by helping an Autistic young man who lost his job last week. He has been trying to find a new job, but I know he is really hurting for food and enough to pay his rent. I would love to help him out.
We participate in our small towns food drive!
We donate food, clothing, and toys all year long.
I think it is so important to give back! What a great idea.
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I would give back by buying more cat food and treats to help feed the neighborhood cats in need.
I already donate items monthly to our food pantry and baby corner but I could always do more!
i give to our animal shelter
We give back by donating to the local food pantry.
I give back to our community for volunteering for the food shelf.
And I help with Toys for Tots – fun!
thank you
I donate to local charities every year.
We donated food and books to the school my kids attend and they use this to help those in need
We support our local food bank & the Ronald McDonald House.
we are active in our church
We give back to our community in several different ways.. we volunteer at a food giveaway site and help serve meals. I am an avid gardener and give some of what was bessed to me back to the food bank. We also love giving to Toys for Tots . Theres a long story involved there but years ago when I was a child our family got toys and I will never forget them.
I also do TNR and socialize kittens out of pocket and maintain a feral cat colony (TNR is trap nueter release) I have done that well over 20 years .
We do quite a but, and try to do more. So many people are hurting, and although we have little it is a pleasure to do what we can. I would use the extra money to buy more seeds for the garden so we can give more of the bounty of the earth.
I give back by donating personal care items to our local womens shelter, and food items to our food pantry!
Thanks for the chance to win!
Entered the rafflecopter form as “Wild Orchid”
wildorchid985 AT gmail DOT com
I donate and occasionally volunteer at a local battered women and children’s shelter.
I always give the kids clothes away! I choose a different place each time I clean out thier drawers.
I try to donate to my local food pantry whenever I can.
by donating to the ronald mcdonald house and volunteering there also.
we give books and old toys to the childrens hospital in our city!
Thank you!
We volunteer at the Sharing Center at a local church. On Friday nights clients come and choose food for their families.
I will donate to the foodbank.
We donate to Toys for Tots.
I donate toys to a local toy drive each year and also to the stuff the bus campaign. The stuff the bus campaign is a drive for school supplies to support families that cannot afford these items. I volunteer with a local dog rescue group too.
Donate towels and pet food to the Animal Shelter. Both Boy and Girl Scouts has food drives for the local food panty so give to them. The Postal Service also has a Food Drive I give groceries to. Senior Center takes up donations (yard, cloth, thread, anything for arts and crafts), so take stuff there. Firemen take up school supply donations. So try to stay busy with whatever going on in my area
We volunteer for a local organization call Cherish Kids! Providing resource and awareness for the local foster kids and families!
I like to send surprises to people who need them. To brighten their day, or fulfill a need they have. They never know where it came from, but they know someone out there cares.
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I would love to be able to donate to a food bank. There are soo many people who need help with food.
I would love to donate this to a non-profit organization, Right Road Kids. They do so much to help our students, parents, and teachers each and every day! Thank you for the opportunity!
I would donate the $100 gift card to teachers to help them purchases needed school supplies for their classrooms!
Thank you for all your work and this great opportunity!!
I try to give back to my community by volunteering and donations
I will give back by donating to our local food bank and church