Each week throughout 2011 I will share how I am giving back somehow, whether it’s by offering my resources, my time, my talents or my support.

Giving back doesn’t have to be on a grand scale. And doesn’t have to be about money.

Oftentimes charities, organizations, causes and foundations need support beyond donations. And that’s what I’m going to try to focus on.

I will be sharing what I’m doing each week; perhaps you, too, will be inspired to give back.

Together we can make a difference.

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52 Weeks of Giving: Weeks 11 & 12

While vacationing in Florida, I missed writing about my giving project for Week 11, so I’m combining Weeks 11 and 12 here.

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Along with the rest of the world, I watched the footage and heard the stories of the Japan earthquake and tsunami disasters with a feeling of helplessness. I knew that there were countless animals that were separated from their owners, injured, sick, lost, scared and hungry, and I wanted to do something for them. So for my Week 11 “give,” I donated to GreaterGood.org’s Japan Earthquake – Help Animals Now campaign.

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For Week 12, I volunteered at a road race that raised money for a local food closet. Usually I like to run in races, but no race would “run” at all without volunteers to help with set-up, registration, parking, directing runners along the route, etc. Brian ran in the race and I stood on the course and waved runners around an orange cone at the halfway mark. It was cold, but I was happy to help out, and I got to have a nice conversation with the other volunteer at my station. 🙂