Day One Hundred-Three: Helping Hands

www.lotsahelpinghands.com

I recently signed up to help out a neighbor at a website named "Lotsa Helping Hands." Its an ingenious idea, one that is deceptively simply yet very effective. Anyone who needs help can sign up on this site and anyone who wants to help can sign up for a task. In this case, a young mother of 2 has breast cancer and will be going through surgery and heavy duty chemotherapy. It's no fun in the best of circumstances, but having to deal with running a household, planing and making meals, getting the kids off to school, to all their activities and everything else you can think of makes it all that much worse. With all the collective wisdom in my neighborhood, someone knew of this site. Some else volunteered to coordinate it by setting it up and requesting tasks for specific dates. A general e-mail went out informing people who know her of this site and its purpose. I am happy to say that as of today the month of March is just about covered for meals with a good dent being made into the month of April. It is so easy to help, because one can pick whatever task whenever it fits into one's schedule.

Many people wonder how to find time to help others with our busy lives. This is a perfect opportunity for just about anyone with a computer. Know of someone going through a health crisis? Set them up and solicit help from those who care about them. Heard of someone going through a financial crisis? A few delivered meals or help with essentials can go a long way with helping them through it. Someone overwhelmed with too much to do and not enough time to do it; single mom, single dad, ailing partner or parent with children to tend to, the list goes on and on. We all have a community to tap into. Sometimes we don't even realize how many people want to help. I know that the neighbor I have signed up to help had no idea so many people would step up. I also know that with so much support, she cannot help but have her spirits lifted in this most difficult time.

The goal of this blog was to help make my own little world a better, kinder place. With the help of this simple tool, it is easy for you to do it too. Steal this idea. Spread the word. We all can use a helping hand from time to time. Make sure you tell those who need help now that we will most likely need help later. As I am fond of saying, "It all comes out in the wash." It does. Karma can be a wonderful thing.