Blog Post #1
Co-author Laurie MacIntosh and her husband Cody went on a ten-month giving spree. While you may not have hundreds of thousands of dollars from Ellen to give away, can you see yourself going on a giving spree? What can you give? How will you do it? List all the details!
I was just having a conversation with some family about this. We were talking about what we would do if we won the lottery. In the times that we are living in today, there are so many needy groups and charities out there. It would be a wonderful thing to have the money to give away to the many charities out there, but it would also be a very daunting task to have to decide who and what to give to.
ReplyDeleteI do not have the money to give away, but I give of my time and talents; I think many of us do. Outside of school I am a 4-H Leader and Secretary of the Friends of Miner County 4-H, I help organize the annual Miner County Feeder Calf Show, I serve on the Howard School Board as well as play piano/organ for our church. I give financially as much as I can to many groups, as well as the groups I am actively involved in, but for a small town we need people to serve. I always go back to the idea of "It takes a village." There are many people who are willing to give the money, but do not give their time to serve. That is how I give, I serve; it may be serving at a funeral at the church, doing dishes after Advent service, or putting together 4-H Christmas activity.
ReplyDeleteJohn King
ReplyDeleteMy wife and I do not have a large surplus to give away, but we do volunteer quite a bit within the extended family and community. We try to respond to and support others within our community in times of need. In the school, programs and kids are always trying to fund raise for different things from helping others in need to educational opportunities. We try to be generous to most things.
Although I do not have monetary gifts to give, I try to give my time. I have coached, stayed after school to help other kids, been part of events in my school and community and helped with fundraisers. I love the "pay it forward Wednesday" and would like to incorporate something in my classroom as a positive example for my students.
ReplyDeleteI can definitely see myself going on a giving spree. Giving is one of my favorite things to ever do! I can give by doing community service- especially for my school. Such as listening to ELD students practice reading aloud in the library, cheering on sports teams and helping the secretarial staff after school hours. Right now our secretarial office needs help organizing and I can help do that!
ReplyDeleteI recently spent about $40 on a pack of pin, pen and bookmark and handed them out personally to staff. It was nice to be able to connect with staff that I don't see as often and it helped them to know that they are seen and cared for. I also working on giving little birthday gifts as well. I have organized an ESP/custodial get together in the past where we could all hang out, eat and play some games. When I am working at the high school activities (I work in elementary), if I see past students come in or play, I make sure to connect with them. It is so cool to see that giving sprees do not have to cost anything :)
ReplyDeleteIt would be so fun to bless others with a monetary gift when they need it most! I do bless others on a regular basis with small treats when they come to mind. Looking outward instead of always inward helps. We can see those around us that just need to be seen. Being able to buy a coffee, their favorite snack, or even a trip to get their nails done goes a long way. Relationships are so important to me and being aware of the needs of others lends itself to this very thing. It can be a daily mindset and way of living.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love this idea and wish I could do it nonstop without even thinking twice about it. At this point, we like to give mostly around Christmas time helping support the local Angel Trees in the best way with getting as many tags as financially possible. We also enjoy sending money to different organizations like Children's Miracle Network, The Shriner's, and The Ronald McDonal House organizations. There are also little things we do from paying it forward for someone getting a coffee behind us, to helping support our nephew and nieces with their fundraising through school and sports programs. We try each year to continuously find different organizations to donate and support. We have started with these few as they are close to our heart and have personally helped people in our families. I like to be able to help our community locally and then also some bigger organizations that are out there.
ReplyDeleteFor me, giving would look more like showing up consistently for the students and people in my life. I can give my time and attention. I allow kids to come in the mornings 45 mins before school starts for extra help. I also give up my lunch to work with them. I go to their sporting events after school. I give encouragement to students who may not always receive that elsewhere. I mentor new teachers and share resources and ideas. For my family, I am there whenever or wherever anyone needs me.
ReplyDeleteMy husband always says that if I won the lottery, I would give it all away. Giving is my love language, whether that be through material items, time, support, etc. I love to give little gifts to our teachers, lunch ladies, administration, and students. I do back-to-school bags, christmas gifts, valentines, teacher/staff appreciation. I love to see how it makes them feel, gives them a boost, a smile, a thought of knowing they are appreciated. I also spend my day giving to staff and students with all the little things I do in our school. Even though my own kids are graduated, I still give my time to prom, class trip, post-graduation party, and many other activities that are in need of volunteers. I volunteer for my church and help with events at my dad's assisted living facility. I'm on call with my family wherever and whenever they need me. I love to be able to give. It's what puts a smile on my face.
ReplyDeleteIf I had the money to do so, absolutely! My husband & I always talk hypothetically about 'if' we would ever win the lottery, how would be spend/save/donate the money out. First we would take care of our 3 children's college funds (2 of my children are currently in college). Then, we would pay off our parents bills/mortgages. We would establish ourselves as well, making sure we have enough to live on & then donate to various local charities in need. We do service projects every year with my children through church & after every time, they comment on how good they feel afterwards. That is the exact feeling I want them walking away from serving others and feeling glad/happy/joyful that they were able to give back with a few hours of their donated time. You see, it doesn't have to be money. It is also a great feeling seeing that smile on someone's face after you've helped them (in any capacity). I think sometimes we forget, just how lucky we are.
ReplyDeleteCo-author Laurie MacIntosh and her husband Cody went on a ten-month giving spree. While you may not have hundreds of thousands of dollars from Ellen to give away, can you see yourself going on a giving spree? What can you give? How will you do it? List all the details!
ReplyDeleteYES!!! This would be a dream!! I LOVE to give things away and help others and if I had endless money, it would be amazing! I would help people in need, give to my church and missions, give to anything and everything that had meaning to me. Helping others doesn't just help them, but it brings joy to me. For now, I can give what I am financially able to give and also give of my time and talents. I give money to my church, missions, my daughter works for Navigators on the UNL campus and I support that ministry, and the Abbott House here in Mitchell. I give of my time by volunteering for multiple different things and also organizing different events to raise money for things. I can bring baked goods to people and businesses to brighten their day. If I see a need, I like to help, no matter what that need might be.
Most recently we have given to every fundraising effort to benefit one of our daughter's friends who is going through cancer. When an opportunity comes up, we don't question we just give or participate. I wish we could give more, but it feels good to offer support through the various fundraisers.
ReplyDeleteIf someone gave me money to gift I would first help some of the families I am fortunate to work with and then choose someone, like Laurie, who is always supporting, giving, etc and surprise them with something special.
Right now, my mother and I sponsor a 2 year child from Tanzania. The donation that we give every month support his education and his health. I would love to do more of this in the future when my husband and I are able to. Every Christmas, my sister and I do an angel tree gift and get a Christmas gift for children in need around the Sioux Falls area. When I have things that I need to get rid of such as clothes or decorations, I donate them to the Bishop Dudley house which families and people in need receive it. I would also like to donate more of my time at the banquet here in Sioux Falls.
ReplyDeleteRecently, we had a young girl from our H.S battling cancer. It's amazing how a community can come together to support a family when they are struggling. Like many others, I wish we could give to make it all go away, but instead our community worked together to organize many different fundraisers. My daughter bakes & decorates cookies, so she baked and decorated over 400 cookies and sold them at a home football game. We sold out before kickoff! We then donated all the proceeds back to the family.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing I 'give' is my time. I love to volunteer and help out where I can. Whether it be keeping book at a basketball game or donating items for the H.S Semester Test hot cocoa bar, I am always helping when/where I can.
We were just talking about this the other night as our oldest works full time at a local camp. We were able to donate to a recent fundraiser and he was talking about how someone had donated a six-figure donation. How fun would that be?!?! Our first place to support would be that camp as they do amazing things for Angel Tree children. We currently support some students through Compassion and would send a healthy donation there as they help families around the world.
ReplyDeleteWhile not everybody has $100,000 to give away, all of us can give to our community and our neighbors. I think giving our time is one of the most valuable things we can do. The best teachers that I work with form connections, often time out of school hours. They help coach or are advisors to fine arts programs or other extracurricular activities. They help with school fundraisers, referee ball games, operate the clock at games or even just attend extra school events. We can also volunteer to do work in our communities. Giving money directly is generous but doesn't solve the problem that made the recipient need money in the first place. Helping people form connections, learn new skills and improve their opportunities can put the person in a position to find meaningful opportunities and careers of their own.
ReplyDeleteAs a librarian, I do not have $100,000 to give away, but what I do have to give are stories, knowledge, time, and literacy skills — which are all resources that change lives long after the moment of giving. Books open doors to imagination, education, and confidence, and literacy skills help students fully participate in school, work, and community life. Small acts, like sharing a booktalk with a student, teaching a class how to evaluate a digital resource or helping a teen mom learn about the importance of early childhood literacy, create lasting personal and community impact. As a librarian, I understand that access to reading is equity. Not everyone owns books, has strong reading support at home, or feels confident using information. What I can and do give my community is access and guidance which in turn inspires self-confidence. Giving away books is really about giving away possibility. A single book can spark curiosity, improve literacy, strengthen families, and inspire future learning. When I share literacy skills alongside books, I give people tools they can use forever. This is my daily giveaway to my students and their families. (If I did have $100,000 to give away though, I would partner with our Head Start and local preschools to help area families in need create and build home libraries for their children).
ReplyDeleteWhile I may not have money to give away, I can still go on a giving spree in meaningful ways. I can give my time, positivity, knowledge, feedback, and kindness to others. In my classroom, this might look like spending extra time helping a student who is struggling, encouraging students with positive words, and sharing helpful feedback to support their growth. I can also share knowledge and resources with colleagues and families to help support student learning at school and at home.
ReplyDeleteOutside of the classroom, I can give kindness through small actions such as helping others, listening, and offering encouragement. These simple acts of giving can make a big difference and help create a more supportive and positive community.
Although I do not have the money to give away, there are many other things as educators that we can do to "give back" to others. As a teacher I constantly am talking about kindness and the small acts of kindness we can do for others each and every day. In my classroom we have done different crafts for the local nursing home residents for the different holidays (Christmas wreath sun-catchers, valentine's pictures, etc.). We also have gone to that local nursing home to play games and just chat with some of the residents there. This really helps the students make connections with those in our community and helps them understand how a small act of kindness can make a huge difference in someone's day. Connection is huge for me as an educator. If I do not have the trust and connections with my students, we will both struggle throughout the school year. I pour all I can into my students each and every day and let them know that I am here for them, especially in my district where many kids need that trusted adult in their lives as they do not have that at home. Offering kids a hug out the door everyday and letting them know a new day lies ahead for them reminds them that someone does care deeply about them and wants them to be successful.
ReplyDeletePersonally outside of the classroom, I have done Angel Trees during the holiday season as well as donating clothing items to our local organizations.
If I had the money I would love to go on a giving spree. There are so many good causes and things to give money to. I would love to give money to underfunded schools, and to rare diseases research. Unfortunately, I don't have a large sum of money to give away. What I can give away is my time and talents. Through the years I have taught Sunday School, volunteered to be part of the connect for kids club, and our school's kindness club. I also feel I have kindness to offer others. This just comes from offering a listening ear and being there to encourage another teachers or students. As I have seen in my own classroom, while money is great you don't always need it to make a difference. Spending time with someone, putting effort into helping another can truly make a difference.
ReplyDeleteI would love to go on a monetary giving spree too, but don't have the proper funds for that. I would love to give bunches of money to children's organizations and animal funds, but since I can't do that, I would have to give time and talent, instead. Volunteering and helping out friends and family have been my way of giving. I also enjoy doing this, so it doesn't seem labor intense. I enjoy spending time with people helping out. My grandkids seem to take center stage these days with my time, but also enjoy volunteering for others!
ReplyDeleteCo-author Laurie MacIntosh and her husband Cody went on a ten-month giving spree. While you may not have hundreds of thousands of dollars from Ellen to give away, can you see yourself going on a giving spree? What can you give? How will you do it? List all the details!
ReplyDeleteI cannot see myself going on a giving spree. It seems difficult to come up with enough to justify such a spree. I am also not someone who would realistically give away everything I just won on a show. I could see regifting a few items that I had or wasn't interested in but overall, I would likely keep most of the gifts for myself and my family. We do, however, give to those in need in our own community. We frequently donate to local charities, causes and GoFundMe fundraisers. We are much more likely top help those we know over a giving spree.
Like most teachers, we don't get into it for the money, so I don't have the money to pay it forward. The biggest and sometimes the most important things to pay it forward don't cost anything. In my classroom, we talk a lot about kindness and ways we can spread kindness. I try my best to spread kindness and model ways to sprinkle kindness everywhere. We try to talk about how these simple things can have a ripple effect and one little smile or holding the door can make an impact on someone's day.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing I can give to others is my time. Time to be present, to listen, to care, to find ways to interact and connect with everyone.
Along with other comments on this post, I do not have the extra funds to do those types of giveaways. However, I do give lots of my time to help the students and school community. I was a coach for both basketball and volleyball for many years. I am not only shaping the minds of my 4th graders, but middle school and high school aged students as well. I also volunteer to help run student council in my school. There are a lot of opportunities to pay it forward when working with this group of students and it can be very rewarding.
ReplyDeleteCo-author Laurie MacIntosh and her husband Cody went on a ten-month giving spree. While you may not have hundreds of thousands of dollars from Ellen to give away, can you see yourself going on a giving spree? What can you give? How will you do it? List all the details!
ReplyDeleteBoth my husband and I are educators, so we really don't have the money to give away. However, I think about all the toys my kids have. Many are handed down from their cousins, but my kids have an excessive amount of toys. With spring cleaning just around the corner, I actually mentioned to my husband last week that we really need to go through the toys and give some away. I think it would be really good to have our kids help us and teach them the importance of giving and why we give to others. We have a three day weekend coming up, so I'm really hoping we can get the ball rolling on this!
I don’t have a lot of money to giveaway but I have donated a lot of clothes and toys to our Nearly New store in Aberdeen. I also ref a lot of kids basketball games and I donated my pay back to the basketball program.
ReplyDeleteCo-author Laurie MacIntosh and her husband Cody went on a ten-month giving spree. While you may not have hundreds of thousands of dollars from Ellen to give away, can you see yourself going on a giving spree? What can you give? How will you do it? List all the details!
ReplyDeleteI wish I did have all the money in the world to give away. However, that is not the case, we are scraping by like many other families. I do give back in several other ways. I use the talents God has given me to give back. I use the gift of teaching and volunteer to teach at church when I can. I love on all the kids in our school, not just my current students. We give back by picking kids from the angel tree and shopping for them as a family. Those are just a few of the ways we give back but when we give it feels just as good to us as I am sure the receiving members. I am very blessed and grateful.
Co-author Laurie MacIntosh and her husband Cody went on a ten-month giving spree. While you may not have hundreds of thousands of dollars from Ellen to give away, can you see yourself going on a giving spree? What can you give? How will you do it? List all the details!
ReplyDeleteI would love to go on a giving spree. I work at a low SES school and would love to give to my students and their families, but since I don't have that money I could offer and give my support in other ways such as donating and clothes, food, or school supplies to those in needs, show up to my students events whether that is sports or music, share resources with my families, volunteer at places like at any school event, be a listening ear to my students when they need time to talk about something, or nomiating my students for programs such as Shop With a Cop (at Christmas time students shop with a cop and pick out presents) or Sleep in Heavenly Peace Iowa (a program where beds are donated to those in need).
Like most of the responses in this blog, I also don't have the money to go on a money giving spree but I would give time and knowledge for someone who needed it. I could donate things: toys, clothing, material things that people need to survive.
ReplyDeleteI can definitely see the value in a "giving spree" that focuses more on sharing time and knowledge rather than just money. For me, it would be about finding small, grounded ways to help students feel a bit more capable and a little less overwhelmed by everything on their plates. I think the best thing I can give is the knowledge and the tools to handle whatever comes next.
ReplyDeleteWhile going on a monetary giving spree would be difficult right now, I could find ways to gift my time and skills set to others. There are many opportunities for me to volunteer my time within my community. I could try to set a goal to volunteer a certain amount of hours or days in a month. There are also many vacant youth coaching positions in my area, with my experience and knowledge that is another area that I could give back to others around me.
ReplyDeleteIf I had the funds, I would like to travel the world and teach under privileged a trade, such as welding, sewing, and etc. I would guide them, encourage them, and support them so they could use that trade to financially support themselves and their families.
ReplyDeleteI would give money to Cornerstone Rescue Mission in Rapid City. I like what they are doing. I would love to walk into a hospital business office and pay off a bunch of peoples bills. Just the thought of sick people having that bill of their backs makes me smile. I know several people who need cars. I would love to be able to give them decent cars.
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I try to give monetary donations to various programs throughout the year and we do it anonymously. We love to have a little thing between each other that we know and others do not. It feels good to do random acts without the recipients knowing and are hopeful that we make a difference. We also try to volunteer with our children to do various acts of kindness as well to show- do onto others as you would want done for you. Anyways, back to the original question, what would be on my spending spree of give-ness; I would love to first, donate to families who have the burden of medical bills and school lunch overdrafts. I have so much empathy for the hearts of these parents. I would love to provide a multitude of gifts to the giving tree during the holiday season. I would also love to provide countless meals to anyone that is struggling. I would be amazing to help children who are in foster care- who do not have any one person to rely on. Would love to help become support so I would definitely donate to Boys and Girls clubs or Big
ReplyDeleteBrother/ Big Sister programs. The options are truly endless. However, I do find myself gravitating to children and struggling families.
Co-author Laurie MacIntosh and her husband Cody went on a ten-month giving spree. While you may not have hundreds of thousands of dollars from Ellen to give away, can you see yourself going on a giving spree? What can you give? How will you do it? List all the details!
ReplyDeleteWe are at the phase of life where we're starting to outgrow a lot of baby-toddler clothes, toys, gear, etc. I've been doing my best to give to friends that could use it before giving to Goodwill. We also try to give our time/money by volunteering at church, making meals for families in need, supporting small businesses. etc. As we grow older and become more and more financially stable, it is important to me to teach my children the value in giving and volunteering as much as we can.
I love to give. Sometimes it shows up in donations to our PBIS store or classroom in tangible items, but sometimes it shows up in quality time like lunch in classroom or extra recess where I am actively engaged. Similar to what they did in the book, I asked my students in the classroom what they would like for a giveaway for a specific task. They told me kickballs, basketballs and water bottles. I knew that many of them also enjoy lunch in the classroom with friends and myself. Surprisingly, that was the first and most prize picked. I am always willing to give up my time to build those connections. I am a very organized person, so I like to get things done and offer it to other adults I work with/share to save time and help them. We donate items to our church, make meals when we can and volunteer as needed. Time, energy and skills are the easiest things for me to donate.
ReplyDeleteEven though I may not be in the time of my life to give away money, I give connections and my time every day all day to my students in my classroom. I greet every student at the door every morning, I learn about all their different interests, and making sure they feel seen and heard. I also give try and give my students as much positive attention as I can in case they are not getting it at home. Reminding them to have confidence in themselves and that they can do it.
ReplyDeleteIf I had the financial resources like we all would love to have, I would love to give to a cause very close to my family and I, which would be the Ronald McDonald House. I would love to give everything I have to them. They do more for families in a critical time than most people would realize.
Yes, although I wouldn't have tons of money to give, for me the most meaningful things I can give is consistent time, attention, and intentional connection with students and athletes. It would focus on everyday presence and relationships rather than material things.
ReplyDeleteIn the classroom, I would make a point to greet every student by name at the door each day so they feel recognized right away. I would also try to give more specific, positive feedback throughout the week, especially to students who don’t always get noticed. When possible, I would build in chances for students to revise or redo work so the focus stays on learning and growth instead of just completion.
As a coach, I would carry the same approach by recognizing effort as much as performance and making sure each athlete feels seen on a regular basis. I would also make an effort to acknowledge important personal details like birthdays or significant family dates so athletes feel known beyond their role on the team. Overall, my version of a giving spree would be about being more intentional in everyday interactions, using consistency, presence, and small moments to help students and athletes feel valued and connected.
I love to give. If I had unlimited resources and could go on a 10-month giving spree, I believe it would have a huge impact on my life as well as my family’s. Giving is a powerful way to shift from being a passive participant in life to an active contributor to someone else’s well-being. It creates a sense of joy and happiness. Helping others feels like a calling and is one of the best things we can do.
ReplyDeleteI would love to give more to our church, our school, and to people in need. Wherever there is a need is where giving should happen—in a thoughtful and modest way. I wouldn’t want to give out of a “look at me” mindset. Instead, I would want to give anonymously, simply to be a help in any way I can. Seeing others happy brings so much joy.
Giving also creates connection and can inspire others to give as well. We all strive for connection, and that is something we can freely offer. Finding joy in giving, and recognizing the connection it builds, is a meaningful way to see growth in both yourself and others
I wish I had more money to give to different resources. There are so many ways that people can give. I do try and give of my time. I contribute at the school where I work with helping tutoring in the evenings for the high school age boys as they are taking classes online to get their degrees. I also like to help at our church. Our school as started a mentoring program for new teachers. This year I worked with 2 new 5th grade teachers. We met weekly to keep in touch with things they may need help with and just to see how things are going in the classroom. I feel I learned a lot from both of them also as they had some new fresh ideas.
ReplyDeleteKelsey Berletic
ReplyDeleteI think the biggest thing I could offer right now is my time. I’m not in a place where I can give a lot financially or donate expensive items, but I do understand the value of showing up and being present for others. To me, a giving spree doesn’t have to be about money—it can be about consistency and intention.
If I were to go on a giving spree, I would focus on volunteering in ways that fit into my daily life. This could look like helping at a local school, volunteering at community events, or offering support to families who need an extra hand. Even small things like babysitting for a few hours, helping someone run errands, or simply being available to listen can make a difference.
I would also want to be more intentional about looking for opportunities to help rather than waiting for them to come to me. That might mean setting aside a certain amount of time each week specifically for giving back. I think sometimes we underestimate how impactful our time can be, especially when it’s given consistently.
While I may not be able to give in the same way Laurie MacIntosh and her husband did, I do believe that giving doesn’t have to be big to be meaningful. Sometimes the most valuable thing you can give is your time and willingness to show up for others.
Yes! I would definitely go on a giving spree! While I don't have money to give, I do have a variety of other ways to give. I can give my time to helping others, whether it's volunteering my time to help friends / family or volunteering to help at other organizations. I can also be available to listen, offer support, or simply a shoulder to lean on. I think the most valuable thing we have to offer is our time, especially when it is meaningful and consistent.
ReplyDelete