NICE Testimonial: My Food Drive

I wanted to do something good this year. Not just the usual holiday charitable donation, but something a little bigger, with more effort. So after reading a particularly inspiring entry in 1001 Ways to Do Good, I decided to organize a neighborhood food drive. I designed some door hangers with all the information and most needed items on there, and I hung them last Monday announcing that I'd pick up items on Saturday. I was a little worried that I'd receive some nasty-grams from neighbors who didn't want me leaving my trash (aka door hangers) at their homes.

That night I came home to a bag of non-perishables on my doorstep, left by my sweetheart neighbors. My first donation! I was so thrilled! Mid-week I received a call from another neighbor, letting me know he had some items to drop off. Friday rolled around and there were two more donations waiting for me when I got home. Later that night a neighbor dropped off some bags of food and told me that he was going shopping the next day and would pick up some diapers to donate. Wow! The next morning a sweet woman named Marcia came by with a giant plastic container packed with food.

Then I went out for my drive around the neighborhood. I shrieked with delight each time I saw a bag on a doorstep. And as I walked around, filling up my trunk, I had the biggest smile on my face. One household had four full grocery bags on their porch. I was a little nervous that they had their groceries delivered or something and I'd be taking them unknowingly! But they were all in different bags, so I think I'm safe.

All in all it was very successful in my opinion, and I'll definitely do it again next year! Thanks so much to all my generous Cinnaminson Harbour neighbors!