by Sarah Welch and Alicia Rockmore

Don’t have time to volunteer at a homeless shelter or soup kitchen? What can you do and act as an example for your family? As food prices rise, food banks are suffering too! Here are a few simple ways you can help:

• You can help by hosting a food drive or transport food to a charitable organization. Locate a food bank in your area through Feeding America’s web site feedingamerica.org [1] (formerly America’s Second Harvest) or check your local yellow pages!
• If you involve children in collecting the food, have them come with you to the food bank to sort and put the items away. Then have them fill the orders for the people using the bank. It goes a long way for kids to actually fill grocery bags with food and know it is going to a family in need. This teaches them the consequences – benefits – of giving and will make a lasting impression on them.
• Plant a vegetable garden with your kids [1], and have them take the bounty to a neighbor who may not get out much and may need fresh produce. Or take it down to a soup kitchen or food bank. Encourage your neighbors to do the same.
• Contact your local church or synagogue help establish programs to feed the hungry in your area. Do they have a pretty lawn? Wouldn’t a vegetable garden to feed the hungry be more appropriate? Put Faith into action - suggest it and get it started!

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We are the co-founders of Buttoned Up, inc., a company dedicated to helping stretched and stressed women get themselves organized and co-authors of “Everything (almost) In Its Place [2].” We welcome your thoughts! Please send ideas and questions to us at: yourlife@getbuttonedup.com [3] or visit us at www.getbuttonedup.com [4]