Every little bit helps





These days, I find myself glued to the television or turning up the car radio whenever I hear the word “hurricane.” I know I’m not alone in wanting to know what is happening to the people affected by these most horrific natural disasters, but more importantly, what is happening for the thousands who are suffering through these nightmares.

For me, it feels like 9/11, wanting to know every minute of every day what was being done for the people involved and feeling personally helpless. On a recent Friday night, my husband and I watched a concert for Katrina on television and called in a donation to the Salvation Army, just like so many thousands of others. Then, a couple of days later, I saw a news show featuring the rescue efforts being done for the animals affected by Katrina. Again I called in a donation, this time to the United States Humane Society.

When my daughter brought home a baggie filled with “Katrina” candy bars to sell for $1 each, of course we bought several, but I was really feeling the need to do more, so I told myself to finish putting together those boxes of slightly used clothing, household items and toys—a project I had started at the beginning of summer––and drive them immediately to the nearest Salvation Army store.

Yet, I kept feeling the need to start something myself. So, I walked around my house the other day, looking for more items to donate, and in our room I saw a small ceramic boat and a soccer ball piggy bank, both hand-painted by our daughter, years ago. I noticed the huge pickle jar sitting on the floor beside my husband’s dresser, almost filled to the top with coins. I remembered that the last time I cashed in the pickle jar it produced over $100. There were a couple of banks in my daughter’s room and one in my son’s room. Downstairs, sitting on our kitchen desk, I found our “Change Chicken” where we dump our pocket change, almost daily. And there it was—the answer to my quest.

My idea is to take all your change, cash it in and then write a check in that amount to any of the charitable organizations whose workers are physically doing what we wish we could be doing ourselves. You’ll be surprised at just how much money you’ll be able to donate—one coin at a time. Our pocket change can help change so many lives for the better. Kristine Thirkill Agoura Hills


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