The Gift in Giving – March Newsletter
February was a wonderful month full of hugs, feeding the homeless and our new event “Operation Sack Lunch & After Work Social”. Now twice a month you can help provide food to the homeless – once a month as we serve food at the Good News Kitchen and once a month via Operation Sack Lunch and Social.
Coming soon I will be organizing a cooking/serving event opportunity where we will go to the Lincoln Park Community Shelter to provide, prepare and serve dinner for 35 residents of this shelter.I’m sure you have a favorite comfort food, ethnic or vegetarian meal you would love to share with the LPCS guests one weekend. Stay posted to the calendar for details. I recently became a Night Supervisor at LPCS and had my first overnight experience. It’s truly a home environment complete with meals.
Ways to serve LPCS besides food: Acetaminophen and Excedrin, men and women’s gently used clothing and shoes, personal care items, bus passes, breakfast items, coffee, tea, magazines, movies, twin bedding and blankets for their bunk beds. I would be happy to drop off any items you would like to donate, so just let me know.
Gives Back Ideas: We are always looking for Co-Organizers so please contact me if you have a gives back idea you want to help bring to the PF community.
Global Free Hugs IV is off to wonderful roll, with people from all over the world participating. We need your help to contact more huggers! Do you have friends or family in another part of the world? Do you have Facebook friends from other parts of the country or world who you could invite to participate? Send them the Link to Positive Focus. Send them one of the many YouTube videos of Free Hugs Events. It’s a wonderful free warm gift to share with anyone who passes you. I cannot explain the warmth and love I feel when a hug is shared with a total stranger. Instant friendships are made and the world is somehow different.
Hugs to you and I look forward to seeing you at a PF event soon!
Cathy
cathy@positive-focus.com
Upcoming Gives Back Events:
Operation Sack Lunch After Work Social, Tuesday March 16th from 6:30 to 9:30pm at Cathy’s House on Wells Street in River North.
Free Hugs Event, Sunday, March 21 from 1pm to 3pm at the Old Water Tower on Michigan Avenue in Chicago.
GIVER PROFILE:
NAME: Cathy Landerholm
CITY: Chicago
I volunteered at these PF Events: Free Hugs, Feed the Homeless, Sack Lunch Social
I volunteer because: I get an enormous positive feeling to be able to give back in ways that make a difference to someone’s life. Where financial donations are not always possible, I can do much by volunteering my time and efforts.
My favorite volunteer experience: Getting to know the guests at the Rogers Park Kitchen. They have become like family to me.
When not volunteering, I like to: Cook, go to outdoor festivals, backpacking trips, skydiving, camping, fishing, hiking, beach volleyball, Opera!
You might be surprised to know: I used to teach ballroom dancing at Fred Astaire Dance Studios and in 2005 I ran the Chicago Marathon for the first time and did it in 6 hrs and 19 minutes. Yes!
What our Givers are saying:
Food Service:
I loved that everyone enjoyed the food, the smoothies and the biggest blast was the assembly line to prepare the 30 lunches. Lots of laughs for all
Such a great idea to make food for the homeless while getting to know each other too. Thanks Cathy for putting this together.
Good News Community Kitchen now looks to Positive Focus Members to answer the call when needed. I am so proud to be a part of a group with so many dedicated members who know the need in our community, and would give up their time when needed. We all get so much out of this.
Free Hugs:
A little cold weather, but was comforted by warm hugs!
It was cold, but as always still a great event.
The best, as always! 
Its a wonderful opportunity to spend a couple hours on a Saturday or Sunday, greeting people from all over the world, sharing a smile, a laugh and most certainly a hug. This really does have a profound affect on so many people, including yourself! That’s what keeps me going month after month.
Haiti Fundraiser:
The sale of some very beautiful artwork brought in some much-needed funds for Doctors Without Borders and we had a great time socializing, eating, and being entertained.
Awesome event for a great cause! Kudos to Rossi and everyone that helped arrange this event.
Thanks Rossi for hosting this event for such a worthy cause.
I am so very grateful to all of you who helped make this event a big success! Love
Our World:
I got lots of the big stuff picked up but much of the smaller litter was frozen to the ground. We’ll go back when it thaws a bit.
Inside activities for me this month – getting rid of some clothes and will donate soon.
Gives Back Events Offered:
Complete Details: of our Gives Back Offerings are on our events page, so check there and RSVP where your are drawn to assist. I promise you that it will be a worthwhile event and have you coming back for more!!
Free Hugs: Twice a month (1st Saturday’s, 3rd Sunday’s, and occasionally additional dates) we spread kindness by the simple gesture of a free hugs at Old Water Tower Park, Michigan Avenue and Pearson St.
Good News Community Kitchen: We meet at their Rogers Park location to serve food to the homeless.
Operation Sack Lunch & Social: Join us monthly for our kid-friendly event with a entree for the potluck food to include in the sack lunches we’ll be preparing to deliver to the Lincoln Park Community Shelter (LPCS). It’s a great time to get to know the PF community better as we eat, drink, laugh and prepare 30 sack lunches to deliver to the LPCS to distribute to their guests.
Our World: First Sunday’s of the month offering you an opportunity to help beautify your space in the world. It can be 5 minutes or five hours. Just imagine if everyone chipped in to clean up in their community from their personal home, neighborhood, city, etc.
RSVP: Although we appreciate you honoring your event RSVPs, when we are working with another organization that is counting on us to provide volunteers or other services it is imperative that you keep these commitments. Certainly emergencies come up, but if you need to cancel, please alert the event organizer ASAP so your position can be filled.