The "J" is for Joy in January

The Greater Boston Food Bank has some upcoming events in January that you can participate in.

Click here for the details.

January is Super Hunger Month.

United Way - Mass

The Massachusetts United Way posted this video

Families are in crisis. This year, Massachusetts has seen a drastic increase in financial instability among its residents as costs of food, heating, and other basic needs have risen.

* Prices for groceries, including basic staples, have risen sharply;
* Milk prices have increased 21% over the past year and egg prices are up 35%.
* In addition, emergency shelters have reached their capacity, forcing the Commonwealth to place more than 600 families into motels.

To respond to the urgency of this situation, United Ways in Massachusetts have joined forces to launch a statewide special emergency appeal to the public to provide swift financial assistance for basic needs. We are aiming to raise and distribute funds in time to help individuals and families cope with rising costs of living including an anticipated 30% increase in heating costs. Please help

elderly

I did further research about those in need during the holiday season and I wanted to be sure to include the elderly since the video primarily focused on kids.

There are too many low-income elderly folks that have no family, they need companionship and laughter this holiday season. For instance, do you know of any elderly living at home - call them ask if they need help removing snow from their driveway and steps.

The United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley posted information on Little Brothers - Friends Of The Elderly:

Would you like to spend Christmas Day doing something for someone else?

Little Brothers-Friends of the Elderly needs volunteers for its Holiday Program. Our elders are without family or friends, and have no one to celebrate the holiday with. On Thanksgiving and Christmas, our organization and our volunteers take the place of family and celebrate the holiday with our elders.

Visiting Volunteers: We need volunteers to visit low-income elders in their homes on Christmas Day. Volunteers will bring a hot meal and flowers to an elder's home and spend some time visiting with them. Most importantly, they will bring companionship and caring.

Volunteer Drivers: We also need drivers to transport elders to a Christmas dinner on Christmas Day. Drivers will pick up elders in their homes, bring them to the event, spend time with them at the event, and take them home afterwards.

If you would like to make a difference in one of our elder's lives this holiday, please contact Mindy Newman, Volunteer Coordinator, at 617-524-8882 or e-mail mnewman.bos@littlebrothers.org.

Visiting Volunteers: Per Massachusetts law, all visiting volunteers must submit to a criminal background check.

Drivers: Per Massachusetts law, all volunteers must submit to a criminal background check. Volunteer drivers must have a valid Massachusetts driver's license and insurance. Drivers must own their own vehicles.

This opportunity is sponsored by: Little Brothers - Friends Of The Elderly - Boston

video

If you think additional charities should be listed under Joy Avenues please email BlogsForJoy[AT]gmail[DOT]com

Thanks for creating joy

Blue Mass Group signs on

The stock market has tanked. Unemployment is up. A lot of jobs are uncertain. State budget cuts have impacted a lot of already vulnerable people. And on and on. Consequently, this is no doubt an unusually difficult holiday season for many.

Fortunately, there's something that you -- that we -- can do to help. If bloggers from all points on the political spectrum join forces in trying to make this holiday season a little easier for those who need it, we can really make a difference. There are several charities that do just that listed under "Joy Avenues" on the right-hand sidebar. Pick one, or pick a couple, and send them whatever you can manage. What better way to spread holiday cheer?

My thanks to Rob Willington of the Mass GOP, whose excellent idea this project was. We at Blue Mass. Group can (and do) disagree with Rob and the Mass GOP on lots of things, but on this particular project, we're 100% in agreement. I hope you are too!

Enhance The Joy

Joy does not have to be a rare commodity. With a few simple actions, you can dramatically increase the happiness and well being of people in need. Whether it's giving a young child a toy, or helping someone with a coat during these brutal New England winters, you can make a huge difference.

The blogging community has a voice (and those that read blogs tend to be activist sby nature, they are connectors). So, I think we as bloggers hold a lot of influence and with influence comes responsibility. Let's point the Massachusetts blogging community into a mission that we all agree with, enhancing joy among those in need.

With all the talk of our "hurting economy" it's usually thought of in the context of "me" and "my future" with little regard about another community in need. Just because you don't see it in your life on a daily basis does not mean there is no need.

Toys For Tots recommends an unwrapped toy under $10. That's two cups of coffee at Starbucks. Two cups of coffee! Yes, starbucks brews some good coffee (in my opinion) but that $10 will do a whole lot more for the child in need.

Let's light up the Mass blogging community to increase the joy among the joyless in our state.

If you would like to be given access to BlogsForJoy just send an email Bogs[FOR]Joy[AT]gmail.com and provide the link of your blog.

The 10 Point Joy List

1. Organize a drive (toys, jackets etc) and blog it (here and crosspost it)
2. Link to one or more of the Joy Avenues on your blog
3. Submit additional Joy Avenues for us to post
4. Work a soup kitchen
5. Recruit other blogs to join the JoyNetwork
   
6. Spread the word re BlogsForJoy via Twitter
7. Spread the word re BlogsForJoy via Facebook
8. Spread the word re BlogsForJoy via MySpace
9. Spread the word re BlogsForJoy via LinkedIn
10. Spread the word re BlogsForJoy via Tumblr

The Massachusetts Toys For Tots website has a listing of drop-off locations in the area. We thought it would be helpful if this data was in google maps for you to visualize.

View Larger Map