Tzedakah starts at home

The past few weeks have given us plenty of opportunity to talk to our children about giving back and helping others.

I wish we could help everyone, but I'm happy knowing that we're trying.

Atticus and Wren planned on having a lemonade stand to raise money to go to Rye Playland which is a small local amusement park.  Then came the hurricanes.  Hurricane Harvey hit several of our friends hard.  Several had damage.  One college friend lost her home.  My cousin works with two nurses who lost everything.  The kids and I talked and we decided that any money raised at our lemonade and bake sale would go instead towards gift cards to help our friends rebuild.  In exchange, Greg and I promised to take the kids to Playland without them having to spend their own money.  (Little did we know the theme park was already closed for the season!  That part stinks as it still feels like summer outside and we totally could have gone for a day of fun.)

 

Other friends also decided to hold a lemonade stand.  Then, a local benefactor sent us an additional $100!  We were able to send a grand total of $400 in gift cards to our friends.  

Super proud of of all the local kids who are helping do good things!