*This post has been sponsored by Social Fabric and Champions for Kids but all opinions remain my own. Full disclosure is at the bottom of the post.

My family likes to save where we can so we can donate more.  We don’t donate to every charity out there but we donate too the charities that are closest to our hearts and several that our closest to our homes.  This month is “Missions Month” at our church and I’m priviledged to be able to serve on the missions committee at our church.  Our church believes in supporting local and national missions.  As our pastor frequently says, “The light that shines the farthest shines the brightest at home.”  The missions committee decided that the theme for this month would be “Let your light shine.”  As a way to shine our light we decided to give of our resources to two local charities.  Families are encouraged to bring donations for a local food bank and for a local pregnancy center.  I love both of these ministries and I enjoy shopping for charities.

A week or so ago I was contacted with the opportunity to Pack a Sack for Champions For Kids and I jumped at the chance.  Champions For Kids is partnering with Abbot Brand Products to bring nutritional non perishable foods to local food pantries and food banks.  I think it’s neat the way that it worked out because I would be buying food to donate anyway and now I get to promote a great cause and tell you about it.  If I wasn’t part of this campaign I wouldn’t have thought to have told you about my donation but now I can tell you how I donated and encourage you to do the same in your local community.

Being on the missions committee it was my job to help spread the word about this month-long campaign.  We’ve posted fliers, made announcements, added the details to the morning power point slide, and even handed out little key chains reminding people to shine their light.  We have a designated area in the church where people can bring non-perishable donations.

I went shopping at our near-by Walmart for items to donate.  First, I grabbed a few things I wanted to get for our home like Infant Advil (for my sick little one), an adorable mini-golf set (for her birthday coming up), and a new bucket and sponge so I can wash the thick pollen off of my car.  Secondly, I went to the tote section and picked out a medium size tote that I thought would be good to fill with food for the food bank.  Then I went shopping!  If you’re interested you check out my whole Walmart shopping trip.

Even when buying for others I’m still thrifty.  When it came to the name brand items that I’m uncompromising on and I buy faithfully for my family I bought those to donate and when I found a store brand item that my family loves I bought it instead of the name brand.   I used coupons, paired them with sales.  I spent as much money as I had budgeted to spend but this way my money went a lot further.

I really want my daughter to learn to be a giver.  I hope to show her example after example of how our family gives to others and is grateful for all we have.  I know it’s never too early to start leading by example but unfortunately my little sweetheart is down with an awful virus.  She wasn’t well enough to go shopping with me and wasn’t well enough to go to church to drop off our items.  Hopefully she’ll feel better soon and she can help us deliver the items to the food bank at the end of the month.

I know money is tight in every home, I know that.  Some of you may have a few hundred to give, others a few dollars, and some truly can’t give anything.  I understand, I’ve been in each of those places at some point in my life.  If you have the money to donate I want to encourage you to give to others less fortunate…especially the children in your neighborhood.