Lisa Petrarca's Blog: Skid Row

Lisa Petrarca's Blog: Skid Row

Skid Row

I have decided to take clothes, blankets and sports equipment down to Skid Row in L.A. the weekend of Easter. My sister, Stacy and her family and my husbands ex-wife and all of our kids will be making the trip. I have so much "stuff" that I've accumulated and never use. I feel I should take it directly to the needy.

I was so amazed that so many kids are living on the streets, the average age is 9. I want to be able to make a difference so I will go directly to the heart of the most desperate area of the problem. I at first thought that we would drive down there and get out and start handing out all of the items. I was then informed that the most effect way is to contact an already established charity. They know the areas and are familiar with the people. I did more research and stumbled across an article written by an LAPD Policeman named Officer Joseph who works the Skid Row beat. His article confirmed that so many people just drop stuff off and it is often picked through, fought over and just thrown on the sidewalk. I am currently in the process of finding an organization to go through as the date to make the trip rapidly approaches.

I would also challenge and encourage all of you to go through your things and while your doing your "spring cleaning", bag it up and find a place to take it to. It will make a direct impact on someone else as well as your own. My suggestion would be to make a plan to go with a mission or charity group to distribute your items. You never know whose life might be changed (maybe even your own)!

REMEMBER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE ONE PERSON AT A TIME!

Today....Hmmm.......Still Looking!

I have been racking my brain trying to figure out what I can do today for someone. I forgot to let anyone get in front of me while I was driving (I was feeling a little aggressive today?!) I didn't let anyone in front of me at the store either. I 'm going to have to find some way to do something nice for someone before the day is over. Wow....it's actually hard to do something nice for someone on a day when I didn't feel particularly bright and cheery. I guess that is probably when I need to do it the most. I always get a really good feeling inside after I 'm nice to someone. So I still have some time left before the day is over to complete my own personal challenge.

I always do things for my family but doing something for a stranger is a whole different ball game. It actually takes a little thought, Hmmm what a concept, trying to focusing on doing something nice. It takes away all the self pity, depression and stress. I like having to think about someone other than myself and what daily drama I'm going through for a change.

My husband and I go to a class tonight (learning to communicate better). Don't worry, no major problems just always striving to make our relationship even better. I know I will have an opportunity in class tonight....so I will end this blog as TO BE CONTINUED...........

Help Kids in Africa

I just wanted to let everyone know that our church had the man who started Hope 4 Kids International, Tom Eggum, come and speak last year and again this year.  He is AMAZING and his story of how he started the non-profit organization actually gave me chills.  We signed up last year to sponsor a little boy in Uganda for $29.00 a month.  During our recent financial struggles we had to have them re-process the automatic debit a couple of times, but wanted to make sure that we continued to do it, after all, a little boy was counting on us!  when a lady contacted us to ask if we wanted to stop sponsoring because of our money situation......I told her, "ABSOLUTELY NOT, this is important for us as well as the children.  She said, "Okay Good, I just wanted to make sure."  

We received a letter from our little guy Mwimi (age 10), I wanted to share it with everyone.....so here it is:

Greetings my sponsor in Jesus's name.  How are you?  Back to me and my family, we are doing good.  We stay in Eastern Uganda, Butalya district in Butesa village.  Thanks for choosing me to be helped by you.  I look forward waiting for your letter and your greeting.  Thank you for your heart you showed me.  Here are some of my pictures please enjoy them at the bottom of this letter.   Educationally I am trying to keep up though our school is in the villages.

Mwimi Yusufu

How awesome is that? I put the letter on the fridge for all the kids to see and read daily.  I think it's important as parents to teach our kids to give to others less fortunate and the best way to do that is to lead by example.  So I wanted to give you all the same opportunity to sponsor a child in need.  Here is the info:

Hope 4 Kids International

PO Box 74010

Phoenix, AZ 85087

T (623) 979-5516

F (623) 979-5244

www.hope4kidsinternational.org 

The difference you make each day can impact the world.  Step out of your comfort zone and start making a difference......SOMEONE IS WAITING FOR YOU!!!

DAILY ACT OF KINDNESS UPDATE:

My act of kindness today was to write a letter back to Mwimi along with a picture of our family. Please share with everyone what you did for someone today.....this is not to brag, but to inspire and move others into action.  So tell me...............................................   

What Did You Do Today?

I just want to check in with everyone and find out what good deed you did today?  It doesn't matter how small, just anything!  I hope you will post what you did in my comment section and then add it onto your blog.  I want everyone to challenge the people in their lives to do the same and lets see if we can get this thing rolling!!

So today I decided I wasn't going to let one of my bosses get to me and upset me like he did last week.  This morning I prayed all morning and then again on the way to work.  I  stopped to get some gum and an older man in his 80's turned around and said, "Sorry, I'm taking so long, I'll be done in a minute I'm buying some toys to donate to some needy kids through my church.  He was so happy and sweet that all of my anxiety about getting to work just disappeared.  I said to myself, "What a great way to start the day!"  When I headed outside, I noticed the little man was getting into a broken down white buick with rust and dents all over it.  Wow, I thought....he obviously doesn't have a lot of money and he is still helping!

I got to work and said, "Good Morning" to my boss.....NO RESPONSE.  I went back to my desk said another prayer, this time for him.  Which was very hard to do when he was the last person I wanted to pray for after the way he treated me last week.  But I thought, he obviously needs it ALOT!  So I heard him getting upset with someone on the phone, then he hung up and SLAMMED the phone over and over again about 4 times.  I said another two prayers for him and me!  Within 15 minutes I went back into his office to give him something and then he asked in a very cheerful voice, "How are you doing?"  Then he smiled and asked if I would walk across the street and get him some lunch and he wanted to buy my lunch too.  The rest of the day he was like a completely different person.  PRAYERS WORK!!!!  Just remember to pray for the people that are the hardest to like.....they need it the most!

Please let me know how your day of kindness went.  

READ MATTHEW 22: 37-40    

Day Off

Yay.....Anthony and I both have work off today!  I wish I was wealthy and could just be a stay at home mom and write everyday.  What can I say....hopefully "The Secret" will start working because I've definitely been thinking this thought for a while now.  In the meantime I will continue to write my book and eventually when I finish it and it gets published (see the positive thinking...LOL), I will be able to afford to stay home.

So today we just laid around...no sports or anything going on today, it's definitely nice to have a free day to be lazy, it doesn't happen very often in this household.  Later we are going to take our dog Allie down to dog beach for some excercise......she's getting FAT and so are we (holiday bulge)!

Okay, so I'm going to try something new on my blog.  At the end of every entry, I'm going to challenge everyone to do one good deed for someone each day.  It doesn't have to be huge, here are some examples:

1.  Let someone go in front of you at the grocery store.

2.  Buy a homeless person sitting in front of a store some food and water.

3.  Hold the door open for someone.

4.  Smile at a grumpy person (they probably need it!)

5.  Visit a sick friend and take them a meal.

6.  Offer a caring and compassionate ear to someone hurting.

7.  Let that person trying to change lanes go in front of you.

8.  Help an elderly person put groceries in their car.

9.  Forgive someone who has hurt you, (YOU will feel BETTER!) 

10.Encourage others to do something kind for someone else each day.

Someone is waiting for YOU to make a difference in their day!!!

Read Psalm 138: 2-3

  

7.