$100 to Eric to help raise money for wounded soldiers

I don't do a lot of charity donations via this site. I tend to prefer to give to individuals who send in their own personal requests for help. But I did receive a request from a person who was looking for money not for himself, but to raise money for servicemen and women injured while serving our country, the United States of America.

Today, I've given $100 to the Wounded Warrior Project via Eric's Warrior Dash fundraiser.

This is a worthy cause and something I'm proud to be able to support. If it so inclines you, consider giving a dollar or two of your own via this link.

Windy spring day - up before the sun and ready to give away money

It's about 5 in the morning where I'm sitting right now, and the wind is really howling outside. On the news, I've seen that some regions of the United States have been hit hard with spring storms. I guess I'm blessed to merely be woken up by noisy wind this morning, and I'll say a prayer for all of those families affected by the terrible storms in the south and east.

Since I'm up though, I thought it would be nice to update this blog so you'd all know I haven't forgotten about you. I've been lazy about posting this year, and finally have found a moment to catch up.

So I'll go to the mailbag and pick a recent message ... today's free money request comes from Mike in Kentucky. He wishes me well and expresses his gratitude for this web site. Mike needs money for bills - a common issue we're all very familiar with. Sometimes day to day expenses can overwhelm us. So to help with his household bills, I'm sending Mike $300. That should go a long way toward making a car payment or buying groceries, paying down a credit card or getting summer clothes for the kids.

I'm not certain what Mike will choose to do with this money. But I encourage him to use it wisely and, one day, pass the gift on to someone else who needs it.

Stay safe everyone. I'll be back soon to share more good news with you.

Woke up early today and decided to share a story with you

I'm not sure why, but I woke up very early today. It's Saturday and I think I'd prefer to sleep in. But here I am, with it still being totally dark outside, and I'm wide awake.

I figured I'd take a few moments to share a story from a week ago or so.

I received a letter from a lady that I'll call Vanessa. She shared a story that is all too common these days. She's lost her job. She's been looking for another one but hasn't had any luck in several months. Unemployment is helping keep the lights on and some of the bills paid. But she has a child who is approaching college age and is considering attending one of several local schools.

One of my goals with this blog is to do just a little bit to make folks' lives better and help make the future brighter for everyone.

While some may not view paying tuition and fees for college as an immediate need comparable to medical bills, groceries and a mortgage, I see it as a way to provide a more secure future for one's self and one's family.

Not everyone necessarily has the skills or the opportunity to go to college. But everyone has the ability to work to make their lives and their family's lives better - whether that's through pursuing higher education, or by taking on a second job to provide a few extras, or through the charity work we do or even just by taking the time to read a few pages from a storybook to your child each evening. No matter our circumstances or the size of our paychecks, we each have the opportunity to enrich lives.

I decided to share $500 with Vanessa as my way of helping her enrich the life of her child.

As I said, providing money for someone is just one way to helping them to a better life. I urge you, no matter your circumstances, to wake up each day and try to find a way to make life better for you, your family and your neighbors.