Happy Soul Food Friday!
Quite a post-thanksgiving week…
First some humor to “pattern interrupt” your routine, and bring a smile to your face from the mouth of babes:
KIDS IN CHURCH
3-year-old Reese :
‘Our Father, Who does art in heaven,
Harold is His name..
Amen.’
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A little boy was overheard praying:
‘Lord, if you can’t make me a better boy,
don’t worry about it.
I’m having a real good time like I am.’
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After the christening of his baby brother in church,
Jason sobbed all the way home in the back seat of the car.
His father asked him three times what was wrong.
Finally, the boy replied,
‘That preacher said he wanted us brought up in a Christian home,
and I wanted to stay with you guys.’
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One particular four-year-old prayed,
‘And forgive us our trash baskets
as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets.’
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A Sunday school teacher asked her children as they
were on the way to church service,
‘And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?’
One bright little girl replied,
‘Because people are sleeping.’
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A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Kevin 5, and Ryan 3.
The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake.
Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson..
‘If Jesus were sitting here, He would say,
‘Let my brother have the first pancake, I can wait.’
Kevin turned to his younger brother and said,
‘ Ryan, you be Jesus !’
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A father was at the beach with his children
when the four-year-old son ran up to him,
grabbed his hand, and led him to the shore
where a seagull lay dead in the sand.
‘Daddy, what happened to him?’ The son asked.
‘He died and went to Heaven,’ the Dad replied.
The boy thought a moment and then said,
‘Did God throw him back down?’
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A wife invited some people to dinner.
At the table, she turned to their six-year-old daughter and said,
‘Would you like to say the blessing?’
‘I wouldn’t know what to say,’ the girl replied.
‘Just say what you hear Mommy say,’ the wife answered.
The daughter bowed her head and said,
‘Lord, why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner?’
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Thanks Mohit!
If you enjoy your soul food, your diet undoubtedly includes some healthy portions of giving and volunteering…
The link below shows you how Total Charitable giving in the US is doing along with the impact of Volunteerism.
Individuals continue to give more collectively than Foundations or Corporations, and sadly volunteer rates dipped last year.
Check out the real value of volunteer service in strengthening the social fabric of America:
Thanks Heidi!
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In the spirit of self-disclosure, here are some soul food snapshots from my week serving in a double bottom line organization focused on both financial performance AND social mission.
In November, Mission Fed set a record with our highest member growth month in 50 years!
Earlier in the week, as part of our 50th Anniversary, I was privileged to award the winner of our $1,000 for 50 second video contest their certificate and prize money.
The member-developed videos were quite impressive. Click here for some samples:
https://www.missionfed.com/1000-for-50/Winners
Midweek, I did a site visit of the San Diego Center for Children as part of the Mission Fed Community Foundation Board and was very inspired by the soul-filling and heart-warming work they do EVERYDAY, not just on Soul Food Friday.
San Diego Center for Children is San Diego’s oldest children’s charity. It was formerly known as the San Diego Children’s Home, before that the Women’s Home Association, and harkens back to 1887 when civic leaders joined together to help our region’s most vulnerable children live and flourish. Today they serving more than 600 children a year with five locations across the county. They turn 125 next year and could really use your help in getting the word out about the services that are available for children who have experienced trauma, abuse or have mental health problems right here in San Diego.
They provide:
- free mental health counseling and day treatment programs for children and teens in four locations across San Diego County;
• a free K- through 12th grade accredited school for special needs children
• an intensive reading improvement program for special needs children who are severely behind in reading
• a residential therapeutic treatment program for children and teens who have no home or who cannot live at home, that incorporates a full school day, intensive mental health services, and wellness activities, such as recreational therapy, recreational music making, and art programs
• a foster care placement program in which special needs foster children are given the support they need to succeed and thrive in a stable foster family environment by providing services to help them better manage their mental health challenges and reach their full potential
• a wraparound post-treatment program for children who leave the Center to support them as they successfully reintegrate into their family or foster family, and into a community school
If you are not familiar with the great work they are doing please consider supporting or volunteering & check out:
http://www.centerforchildren.org/
Thanks Rana!
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I also had the opportunity to participate in Mission Fed’s Matching Grant at KPBS TV, where during the news hour next week, every dollar pledge made by viewers like you will be matched (effectively doubling the value of your investment in public broadcasting) thanks to Mission Fed.
Mission Fed and KPBS are both 50 year old not-for-profits that support education and community service, and you can see us on KPBS TV, Mon-Fri next week between 7:35 and 7:45 if you want to make your money go further…
We are working on a task force to Transform Education in San Diego and planning a huge event in February (more about this soon).
Finally, Saturday I will speak at the Fostering Opportunities Dollars For Scholars Luncheon for foster kids in San Diego.
Hope your week is soul filled and fun
To take you out, here is something I first experienced some time ago but is definitely worth a re-visit. Directions for the best experience:
- Click the link below and view it twice.
- The first time keep your eyes closed, and the second time, actually “watch” the video.
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvngZLF7dUs
Thanks Larry!
Pay it Forward…
Love,
Nev
Happy Soul Food Friday! 