#blogitforward is based on the concept of Pay it forward, an idea I first came across through Bookcrossing; through the book Pay it forward* and the activity of Random Acts of Bookcrossing Kindness. Wayfair has picked up on the idea and have been asking bloggers to spread kindness, and to help make a difference they will donate £50 for every blog that participates.
Over the past few months I’ve been doing a lot of sorting so have passed clothes on to friends through a swapping party, and taken clothes, books, and toys to charity shops, so I wanted to do something different for this challenge.
Food banks
We do our shopping online so I don’t go into a supermarket often. So when I went into buy a few items last week I was pleased to see the option to donate items to the local foodbank. Money is not abundant at the moment while I’m looking for work, but I know we are more fortunate than some people so I was keen to make a contribution. On the donation box there was a sign listing items that were in demand that included toilet roll and shower wash, things I would not have considered but make so much sense.
Text books
I was wondering what else to do, when I read this news story Pupils in poor countries lack textbooks, says Unesco. We had a lot of text books we no longer wanted and I didn’t know what to do with them, and thought they may have to go for recycling, but this story inspired me to find a way to pass on the knowledge inside the books.
I started by searching on “donate old text books” and the Oxfam site was returned stating they take donations of “fiction and crime, art and history, children’s, academic texts, cookery and travel.” It was easy to find somewhere to take our books, as they have a search tool on their website that enables you to find local donation points for specific items.
I went to the Henley Books and Music store and as they kindly offered to help me bring the box of books from the car to the store I got a peak into their back room. What a lot of books, and apparently this is a small store! If I didn’t already have a large number of books to read and a four year old with me, I would have been tempted to spend considerable time looking through the shelves.
#blogitforward
The idea is for each blog to nominate two bloggers to participate, but as the challenge ends tomorrow I think it is too late to nominate named bloggers. So instead I hope everyone who reads this post is motivated to pay it forward and spread kindness whether that is by scrapping ice of a neighbour’s car, giving a plant as a thank you or donating to a cause you believe in.
What is the kindest thing someone has done for you?
*Disclosure: this is an affiliate link meaning if you purchase something after clicking on it I will earn a small percentage of the sale but it will not cost you any more
I love these ideas, especially the text book one as I recently came across a whole pile in my parent’s attic.
The #BlogItForward campaign was such a good idea, wasn’t it? It also inspired so many great posts and good reads.
x
Thank you Tracey. I really hope the books have found a new home because I thinks books and knowledge are very important to share.