Giving Feels Good!
I’m glad I’m not a charity right now. With the downturn in the economy, the stock market and overall fear of job security, retirement security and every other kind of security, I image getting people to open their wallets and give is getting harder by the day. And who can blame us? Our mortgage, gas & electric companies aren’t going to let us skip a payment because we donated to charity, so we need to be careful with our hard earned dollars.
HOWEVER... (you didn’t think I’d let you off that easy, did you?) giving feels good. Even if you can only give a little – be it money or time or a combination of the two – it can make a big difference. What it every artist who reads my weekly newsletter gave $1 to a charity. Voila! There’s $500 right there. That can make a difference.
5% of profits from ArtLicensingInfo.com is donated to The Books for Kids Foundation – I’ve always had an interest in children’s literacy and am excited to support this wonderful organization. The Books for Kids mission is to promote literacy among all children, with special emphasis on disadvantaged children and youth by donating books, creating childrens libraries in under served locations, and participating in reading initiatives with community based organizations.
To learn more, visit their website at: www.BooksForKidsFoundation.org
If you would like to donate directly to the Foundation, and it can be as little as $1, make a tax deductible donation through the 
NetworkForGood.org website.
But of course you don’t have to give to the charity of my choice. Give to your favorite cause. Give your time and talents– teach an art technique at a school, to seniors, to other local groups. Just think about one way to can give back… I believe the “good deeds” will come back 10-fold in your karma bank!
~ Tara
Crayons to make a child's future brighter
Its that time of year again! The stores are doing their very best to entice us to shop with them by offering great deals on back-to-school supplies. It works too… I went to Target with my son and got a few 5 packs of 70 page spiral bound notebooks for 50¢ (yes! For 5 notebooks!), as well as 24 count Crayola crayons for 22¢… it’s crazy. This is definitely the time to stock up sinc these prices won’t be back until this time next year.
Let me tell you what I do — I really take advantage of these deals and for about $20-$30 — whatever you can afford, you can make a difference for kids in your area.
My friend works with a shelter for homeless families. THese families have challenges, as you can imagine. We were chatting one day and she told me something that blew me away.
A big problem many of the kids have is they don’t have a pencil. Can’t do homework without a pencil. A pencil. Can you imagine? So I stock up!
A lot of people think about giving to those in need at the holidays — when programs are in full swing to help kids get toys and games and little extras. But NOW is a great time to give them things they need to learn (paper, pencils, rulers, glue…) and things they need to be creative (paint, crayons, makers, construction paper…) Do it now and you will pay pennies on the dollar.
So I challenge you to head to one of these great sales, buy some extra supplies and find an organization that can get them to people in your area. They will be so appreciative and you will feel pretty good about yourself as well — I promise!
Have a creative and giving day!
~ Tara
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