Thank you to everyone who responded to my request for help celebrating my 50th birthday with the 50-50-50 Kindness Project.
In short, I'm sending 50 cards to 50 strangers in 50 days.
(There are still just a few slots open if you know someone who needs some extra love and a l'il boost right now. Just email me.)
It's already been an extraordinary journey to connect with so many of you and to hear about your loved ones who are going through so much — health issues, loss of loved ones, divorce, disappointments. I'm reminded of that saying, "10,000 joys and 10,000 sorrows." It's all part of this human journey, but that doesn't make it easy. We need all the love and compassion we can get.
I know for myself, that when I'm going through a hard time, the smallest of kindnesses can really help. Those are the pinpricks of light I want to offer others.
Would you want to help offer some pinpricks of light and hope to some folks, as well? My spiritual teacher, Cheri Huber, started a co-operative in Kantolomba, a small slum outside Ndola, Zambia. The Africa Vulnerable Children Project provides healthy nutrition, safe housing, health care, employment, clean water, and education to the community. The nutrition program feeds more than 800 children every day!
If you've been inspired at all by my 50-50-50 Kindness Project and you would like to also offer some kindness to strangers, it would make me so happy if you'd be willing to donate to this amazing project. Money goes a long way in Africa. For example, $15 pays for food for a child for an entire month.
Anything you could offer would be incredibly appreciated and I can vouch for the integrity of this program. Living Compassion is a 501c(3) organization.
Details on how to donate are below. Just be sure to email me if you donate, so I can thank you myself. Because your donations would be a pinprick of light you're sending to me, as well as to those beautiful folks in Kantolomba. (No need to tell me how much you donated; any amount from $1+ is greatly appreciated!)
Newly 50 + grateful for you,
Sherry
P.S. I just love the quote from Hada Bejar on the photo at the top: "The fragrance always stays in the hand that gives the rose." In other words, it is impossible to give a pinprick of light without basking in that light yourself. It is a beautiful circle of giving.
How to donate to Living Compassion's Africa Vulnerable Children Project:
1. Send a check to me in the amount you would like to donate made out to "Living Compassion."
Mail to:
Sherry Belul
150 Cayuga Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94112
**be sure to include your name and mailing address so they can acknowledge your donation and make sure you receive a tax statement at the end of the year. Living Compassion is a 501c(3) organization.
2. Donate via a secure server by clicking on this link:
You will see a notes box following your name and donation amount. In the notes box, please write, "Donation for Sherry Belul's 50th Birthday."
https://app.etapestry.com/hosted/LivingCompassion/AfricaSponsorship.html
3. Simply send me your donation via PayPal.
You can send funds via PayPal, using the "send funds" button and sending to connect@simplycelebrate.net. Please note that if you send funds this way, 100% of your donation will still go to the African children, but you will not receive a tax statement, since I'll write one big check from all of us.