Make a Difference, Teach a Difference

To make a difference you have to teach a difference. That said I strongly believe in teaching my kids the cause and effect of helping others. Each summer the girls work hard organizing our recycles and when the car can’t possible hold anymore garbage bags full of cans and bottles we head off to the Recycle location where the twins turn in their items for cash. They empty the garbage bags into cage like barrels and then drag it over to be weighed where they receive their little piece of paper for payout. After they wait in line to get their cash we set off to Safeway where they proudly push their own cart up and down the isles searching for food deals like buy one get one free or 10 items for $10. They calculate how much they’ve spent as they go along and sometimes put things back in order to get a better deal on something else. They talk about what the family who will be receiving the items might think of their culinary choices. Twin B says things like “protein is important” and Twin A comments on wanting to give them treats. The choices are all theirs and they patiently wait in line to pay with their own money. Once the food has been purchased we make our donation to Maui’s Food Bank where over 5000 children go hungry on a daily basis. A far cry from the 5star hotels lined up in Wailea where the charge for a hamburger is $16.50. Although I could write a check to the organization and hand it to them to donate, I want my kids to know that even a child can do something to earn money, do the work, have a plan, and contribute to helping others in need. I want them to experience that feeling. I’ve been doing this with them for 5 years now. Each year they look forward to it and each year they take more ownership of the process.

This year we’ve added to our philanthropic projects. We stumbled upon the Keiki Cupboard a non-profit organization dedicated to providing essentials to Maui's school children. Their goal is to have a cupboard at every Maui school, which will contain necessary supplies for children who are unable to afford these items. Teachers, counselors and school administrators will have the opportunity to supply these children with basic needs without the delay of the usual "red-tape" of government programs. We all got involved with this one, even my husband was in on the hunt for great deals and handpicked the backpacks himself. After 2 stores and loads of bags to the car we delivered our supplies to the twins old school. The ladies in the office remembered us and were so happy to receive our contribution. If you would like to help this great organization that goes directly to children from Kindergarten through 5th grade, visit www.keikicupboard.com.