This year I have been sorting through things that I no longer need, things that could be useful to others and donating them to my local Barnardos shop . A couple of weeks ago I was in the shop and I had a look around realising that as well as donating I should be actually buying something to support this worthwhile charity . I spent £4.57 on two CDS , a candle , a model of a fisherman, (as I have a thing for the sea ) and a butter dish which I have decorated here is my tweet CLICK HERE to see the tweet.
When I arrived home I started thinking about the gifts we buy others and thought of the way the media portrays wealth and indeed how some see the need to show their wealth by displaying their possessions to the world . Some obscene purchases of the wealthy really irritate me when I see how many people live in poverty not just in underdeveloped countries but also in developed countries like right here in the good old UK . One example that recently made me question the true value of wealth was the story of Kim Kardashians nappy bag – A bag worth over £10k . Imagine living in poverty & seeing this kind of story splashed over the news most days , and the effect on a humans resilience to keep going . Wealth means more than actually having enough to live on – wealth is about learning , kindness, humanity , giving to others , realising there is only so much you can own and also sharing with others . I feel rich every day because of the family & friends that I have . They give me gifts that are not tangible but yet make me feel like a rich woman .
I enjoy some quiz shows and relish learning. Whilst I watching the Charity donation segments on some “celebrity versions” of well known quiz show, I was struck by a thought
“if celebrities can have a chosen charity then why can’t normal people like me?”
I then researched some charities and chose Barnardos because it is so much more than a charity it has actions and outcomes and this year is celebrating its 150th year . Click HERE to read more about the history of Barnardos, listen to children’s voices and experience the impact that the work of Barnatdos is having on so many lives .
This year until the end of 2016 I am making Barnardos my chosen charity and I pledge to do the following
- Donate anything I no longer need to Barnardos
- Purchase all future birthday presents and Christmas presents until the end of the year from my local Barnardos shop as far as possible . If this is not possible I will go to the nearest Barnardos shop after this one
- If I need to buy anything for myself or my home I will always first look for it in my local Barnatdos shop before going to a mainstream retailer.
- I will tweet my purchases to prove to others that I am staying true to my pledge
I challenge you all to find a chosen charity of your own to support for the rest of the year and to help you feel like you are making a difference .
As Ghandhi said “Be the change you wish to see in the world ”
Thank you Barnardos from me for all the children in the UK whose lives you have touched and changed
Thank you for reading
❤️Jenny❤️
@JennyTheM©️ 