Happy Birthday To Me: 41 RAOKs for my 41st Birthday #13, #14, #15

I am asking 41 people to do one RAOK in the month of November for my 41st Birthday.  15 down, 26 to go!

#13  Amy Ambellan

#14  Michael Rubel

#15  Scott R

Thank You!

Homeless Awareness Month: 30 Ways 30 Days November 13th

Support our expansion project, Home Front at Camp Anza- a new, 

affordable community of 30 homes with on-site services for veterans and 

their families in Riverside! 

Join the day long Give Big campaign to support this project on 

November 13th.

http://mercyhouse.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/13-Give-Big-Riverside.pdf

Homeless Awareness Month: 30 Ways 30 Days November 12

Fare Share

$5 buys a day bus pass for a Mercy House Client

http://mercyhouse.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/12-Fare-Share.pdf

https://www.commitchange.com/nonprofits/3622/donate

#MercyHouseLC

#HomelessAwarenessMonth

Happy Birthday To Me! 41 RAOKs for my 41st Birthday #10, #11, #12

#10  Kerri:

#11:  Harry-Morrel Jessica:

(Friend of my friend Angie!  YAY!)

#12 Erika:

Repeat RAOKers:

My Dad:

My dad will deliver Thanksgiving bags after he adds a $10 gift card to the grocery store to all of them, to people who would not otherwise have the means of shopping for and making a Thanksgiving meal.  He has also started a holiday gift drive for TBESOC where he will collect items for families who are less fortunate.  He donated clothing and food items last week as well.

Homeless Awareness Month: 30 Ways 30 Days November 11th

I guess I should be doing these ahead of time, as most are events for the actual day.... BUMMER!

http://mercyhouse.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/11-Dine-Make-A-Difference.pdf

Dine at Boudins in Santa Ana before 8pm with the above flier.

#MercyHouseLC

#HomelessAwarenessMonth

Homeless Awareness Month: 30 Ways 30 Days November 10th

Thank a veteran!

http://mercyhouse.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/10-Thank-a-veteran.pdf

Please take a moment to send a Thank You card for a veteran through Mercy House!

#MercyHouseLC

#HomelessAwarenessMonth

Kernels of Kindness: Gift Cards for JFS

When I was unemployed, before working at my current job, unemployment paid my rent and my monthly bills (barely), and thats about it.  This was when I even got the checks, the entire time I was unemployed, my checks were messed up, and at one point they owed me over 2 months worth of money.  Without my parents, I would have easily been homeless before I could even blink.  I ended up being unemployed three times within a few years.  Once, I was terminated for no reason, after just receiving a good performance review and a raise, and the other two from one design firm when the housing market had its major crash. I did everything I could to supplement my income.  I started my own pet sitting business and also did pick-ups and drop-offs to anyone needing a ride to and from the airport, no matter what time of day or night it was.

My parents helped me with groceries and then came things like my car renewal, that there was no way I could pay.  Jewish Family Services paid my car renewal for me, which was amazing.

I took this opportunity to pay it forward, and donate $100 in gift cards to them.  It was so nice to catch up with Marcia today when I dropped them off.  She was so happy for me that everything is back on track, and we both couldnt believe that was over 4 years ago.  Time flies.  I am so thankful for the services JFS offers, they helped me and they have helped a friend of mine in the past, and I hope to pay it forward to them again in the future.

I wasnt expecting that writing this was actually going to be really emotional for me.  That was a hard time and a frustrating time, but I am so incredibly lucky to have such an amazing support system from my parents and close friends.  I love you all for getting me through those times... Thank You!

#KernelsOfKindness