Thursday, February 19

WOW


You've heard me mention them before - the women of my neighborhood group - known as WOW. On Tuesday, twelve of us volunteered at our local NC Food Bank. For four hours, we boxed canned goods and foods in plastic or glass containers; attempting to get a variety of items in each box.

My friend who planned the outing said there would be no heavy lifting involved, but she was either misinformed or clueless, since the bulk of it was just that. My back has been hurting (since a misguided attempt to move a file cabinet) for 2 weeks, so I decided not to pack (which also involved leaning over or squatting), but to tape up the boxes and let someone else transfer them to the pallets lined up to receive them.

Would you believe it was sort of fun? Just knowing that what we were doing was really going to help someone later on made us feel great. I wish we had counted the number of boxes we filled, taped and stacked. I think it was at least 4 pallets; which are stacked 4 deep and hold about 64 boxes.

If you have a similar food distribution group in your area, consider volunteering some time. It's a very worthwhile thing to do!


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Today is our son's 43rd birthday. I remember the day of his birth it like it was yesterday. (I wonder how many more years I'll be able to say that?) He's been a good boy and he's an even better man. Happy Birthday, son. See you tomorrow.

Blog reading and commenting will be scarce this weekend, so I'll catch you all on Monday. Be good!







21 comments:

Pat said...

That sounds a very worthwhile idea and good girl for being sensible about your back. Happy Birthday to the birthday boy

Tabor said...

I can try to be as good as you...but that is setting the bar pretty high.

Star said...

Your neighborhood sounds like a great place to live. You often mention your helful neighbors. Good for you guys.

Arkansas Patti said...

Thanks for kicking my lazy butt. I usually let my puny back keep me from volunteering but that is just an weak excuse. Hopefully I could do things that do not require lifting at our food bank. Hope I stay inspired.
Happy birthday to your son. Sounds like you can rest easy by how you and Mr. Kenju raised him.

Evil Twin's Wife said...

Have a wonderful weekend with your family. Happy Birthday to your son!

themom said...

Kudos to that group of women..and Happy Birthday to your son!!

bobbie said...

Happy birthday to your son!

I often think that volunteering for something like that does more for the volunteer than the recipients. It does make you feel good, doesn't it? even if it leaves you aching some times.

Anonymous said...

Ah, I see you in the back there. But there are only eleven women in the picture. Too bad you couldn't get someone else to take it. Kudos to you and sympathy on your back. Also, thanks for coming to my newly-restored blog (slight plug here). You are my only faithful common tater.

Nora

Jamie Dawn said...

Happy B-day to your boy!!

The volunteer work of WOW is superb. Thanks for putting in some time to help others.

Enjoy your weekend.

:-)

Darlene said...

Good for you doing volunteer work. I think you should consider your back before tackling some jobs, though. Back trouble is no fun.

Happy Birthday to your son.

rosemary said...

No neighborhood group, but The Food Bank is a great place to volunteer....happy, happy to your son....he has a good momma.

whimsical brainpan said...

Sorry about your back but kudos for volunteering!

Happy Birthday to your Son!

Jean Campbell said...

Most every patient with whom I talked about the births of their children remembered in great detail, no matter their age. I think it makes such an impression that it never leaves one.

I certainly remember mine, after 43 and 46 years.

OldLady Of The Hills said...

Participating in something like this is really such a terrific thing to do..And I know that feeling of how food it makes you feel. Not being able to go out in the world---I miss participating in that kind of meaningful activity. It makes you feel so good to know you are helping someone else.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Your Dear Son, Judy.

Traci Dolan said...

But I don't want to be good.

Happy Birthday Kenju's son!

Anonymous said...

That's an amazing volunteer group. Very inspiring. I haven't done that kind of volunteering since I was in high school, which was a loooong time ago. Well, I mean, volunteering to help human beings. I've done a lot of volunteering to help dogs...

Oh, and by the way...

Hello,NetChick sent me!

srp said...

Happy Birthday to your son!

And you ARE such a good example to the rest of us! I feel for your back, been there... now it is the knees, so I would have to join you in the taping.

Have a great weekend!

Eddie said...

Good for you!
I see you, on the back row, 2nd from the left.

Anonymous said...

Well done Judy on the good work. I have always found I actually get more out of volunteering than I put in!

Happy birthday weekend with your son.

awareness said...

Judy, I think that's an absolutely brilliant idea...a group of women in your neighbourhood doing that. My neighbourhood is so private....most people just keep to themselves especially at this time of year. But, I could see organizing something like this with my friends around the city.
Many hands makes the tasks manageable, right?

Unknown said...

That is a good feeling - to work hard on behalf of other people. I send money and contribute items but I have never done that type of work for food fundraisers. Other types of fundraisers and community action work, though.

I've figured out how to read your blog which, (as I've explained, appears in miniature, apparently only for me). If I click on the comments link, the comments come up the actual size and then if I click on the read post link above the comments, I can read the post. I'm so proud of myself, cuz it really pisses me off that I haven't been able to read your blog due to this little gremlin that's been interfering! :-)