Every year we do a self-reliance related giveaway for the holiday season and this year is no different – except it sort of is.
First up, we’ve got a little Thieves Essential Oil Mini ‘Health Care Kit’ from Young Living to give one lucky winner. Thieves is an essential oil blend that includes:
- Clove† (Syzygium aromaticum)
- lemon† (Citrus limon)
- cinnamon† (Cinnamomum verum)
- Eucalyptus radiata†
- rosemary† (Rosmarinus officinalis CT 1,8 cineol)
Here’s a bit more information about Thieves in case you’d like to check it out. We use it a lot around our little rural property, for everything from cleaning counters (diluted in soapy water), to homemade disinfectant spray (24-36 drops in vodka in the 1 oz spray bottle), and straight up for colds, flues and infections – though partly due to our regular use of the oils, we don’t have a lot of sickness in the house (very, very little). The ‘kit’ includes one 1-oz. waterless hand sanitizer, one 1-oz. spray, and one 15ml bottle of Thieves essential oil blend – retail value $60). Every home really should have this stuff on hand! 🙂
Now here’s the ‘twist’ – as a bonus, we’ll also be giving $75 to the winner’s favorite local charity, in their name. A few weeks back I did an intention experiment around finances, and I promised at the time I’d share the money in total if the experiment worked. It did, with a small unexpected little graphic project coming across my desk within minutes… So here’s me, keeping my end of the bargain… 😉
To enter for your chance to win, just tell us in the comments section down at the bottom of the page (if you’re on the home page of the website, go to the post page) the best example of ‘community’ you’ve seen in your town or neighbourhood so far this season, then come back to the Rafflecopter App to enter your name – if you win, I’ll ask you at the time where you’d like the $75 to go. The lucky winner will be announced first thing on Christmas Eve.
Don’t forget to leave your name in the Rafflecopter app AND leave a comment in the comment section about the best example of ‘community’ you’ve seen so far this year. We need both for your entry to be valid.
Good luck!
- 11 Lessons Learned from 11 Years of Rural Living - March 23, 2020
- What is ‘Modern Homesteading’, Anyway? - July 17, 2016
- Summer Rural Living Celebration! - July 1, 2014
The best example of community I’ve seen this year was when my neighbor’s husband died suddenly of cardiac arrest in his barn back in February. Almost a year later, and still her friends and church members are coming by to check on her, helping her shovel snow, brining her food and doing some shopping for her. I’ve been moved to tears watching how the good people of this town have taken care of their beloved friend and grieving widow.
A couple that moved in last spring has been the best example to me. They started talking to everyone they could in the neighborhood and whole town… they helped a child plant some veggies/herbs/fruit in large pots and elderly with home repairs along with helping me with greenhouse/sunroom project and such. They have also tried to build up community in our neighborhood by having pot-lucks.
I have a Christmas themed example – tis the season! The plan in our neighbouring town was to chop down a giant coniferous tree as it is getting so large and blocking the town hall building being seen from the road. This tree is lit up for Christmas every year and cider and hot chocolate are served and the townspeople gather round and be merry. The people fought for the tree and won! Christmas is saved!
Just before Thanksgiving, a house in our township blew up from a gas leak. The people were severely burned as were their pets. Immediately the community started having fund raisers and collections for the family that lost absolutely everything. Our local 24-Hour veterinary hospital took both the cats and have been caring for them since the explosion. It was the second time within a week, in that area of the township, that fire had destroyed a home and people came together to help out the families. It was truly inspiring.
New to the community, and in the middle of nowhere, so I don’t have much, but I can think of one thing. A couple weeks ago my girlfriend was coming to visit. Shortly before she pulled off the “main” highway, she was hit by a deer. Yes, you read that right. The deer *hit her*… blew out her side window, and put her in the ditch. Anyways, were she closer to the city, she probably would have been stuck in the ditch on her own until she figured out a way to get out. As it was, being is such a small-town area, she had no less than 4 people stop to help, including one who stayed to make sure she got out ok, one who went home to get a tow rope, another who actually did pull her out, and at least a couple more who checked to see if everything was ok.
The best example of community I’ve seen was working for a local group that provides produce to families who need it. They save produce that would otherwise be turned down at the boarder by grocery stores who do not think the produce is up to grocery store standards. In the past the produce that was turned down would go to waste but a group stepped in and organized a way to save the produce and sell it to churches or families that need it–$10 for up to 60lbs of fresh produce. I was able to volunteer several times this year and it was fantastic. A great way to save food from going to waste and getting it to people who need it most.
That I can think of off the top of my head, one of the local girl scout troops adopting the impoverished families at my son’s school. They dropped off a complete Thanksgiving canned meals a week before Thanksgiving, and bought presents and made stocking for the kids of each family, then had “Santa” deliver them on Sunday. They made sure that the families that wouldn’t be able to afford it had a good holiday season.
Best example of community in my town that I can think of is my church family. People are always there for those within the church, and the neighborhood that the building is in. It is such a blessing to see so many people blessing others.
I’ve seen so many great examples of community in my new rural community, but none so close to home as when I received a call from a pastor from a local church, whom I did not know, who had heard that my barn roof got damaged in a storm and wanted to see if I needed any help. It was a total surprise and since I hadn’t told too many people, I was taken back by the offer to help. It renewed my faith in good people. 🙂
In June 2013 we had a 94 foot tree, not encluding branches come through out house. We had a very small tree company drop all they were doing to come get the tree and branches out of the inside of the house and tarp the top so the storm would stop coming inside. The following day after the storm moved on we had neighbor after neighbor come over to offer help. One neighbor didn’t ask and showed up with his skid steer tractor to move the huge trunk off our driveway. As friends found out about our disaster they started calling. Even though we told them there was not much to do they all showed up anyway. With our neighbors and friends my husband was able to put in braces into our ceilings to help shore up and give strength to the walls and ceiling so that they would stop caving in. In the next week more neighbors dropped by everyday to lend a hand. We felt overwhelmed with the amount of community support we had in our time of need. After 4.5 months at the Marriott hotel we came home to more help with unpacking and moving back in. There was a boat load to do on our small farm after being away for so long. Lots of cleaning from drywall dust, and weeds taller than toddlers all over our farm and now they are all gone and cleaned up.
The best example of community I’ve seen recently was the outpouring of support we received after my mother passed away suddenly on Nov. 21st. Friends brought us meals, sent cards, volunteered to care for our dogs, cats, chickens and goats while we drove 1200 miles away for her funeral, watched over our house and even came to play with our kids and hold my baby so I could pack. I left behind a huge mess and came home to a sparkling clean house. A very painful time has been made easier by our wonderful community of friends and family.
I would have to say our local food box. I recently began volunteering my time helping unload the big truck they get once a month. Quite a few folks have come together to help out those in our small town who need it. It’s quite a wonderful site when a bunch of folks, including kids, come together this way. We also have a community thrift store where folks volunteer their services, whether it is cashiering or sorting or anything else that needs done.
The best community I’ve seen so far in my community is the newly opened Anderson City Market. A friend of mine started it up and I personally have made so many friends and I expect that circle to expand as I’m hoping to debut our farm at the market next year. Thanks for offering this giveaway 🙂
The best on-going example in my little town are the donations to the town and church food pantries, along with coat drives, and the gift tree our town puts on every year for needy kids. Now you’ve started me thinking about all the ‘little’ ways people in our town reach out. A social worker guy picks up the leftover lunch food from the high school, and takes it to the Youth Center, where kids go after school to hang out. It gives some of the poorer kids an extra chance to eat for free, and uses the food that would have otherwise been thrown out. (the Youth Center is staffed by volunteers to give kids a place to go) The cops even have a ‘take a cop to eat’ day to interact with the kids. In the fall the volunteer firemen put on an evening at their firehouse, complete with rides on the fire engine; the USDA has a community garden next door to them, and it all goes into making a nice place to live. Thanks for the reminder of how good people can be.
The best example of community I have seen this season was organized by an AA fellowship for those struggling on Thanksgiving. Holidays in general are tough times for recovering alcoholics and addicts, and the safest place is with fellow recovering people. The AA fellowship arranged to keep its hall open for 24 hours, asking its members to volunteer a couple hours to keep the doors open. Several people volunteered many more hours than that, taking time from their own families to provide a service to others. In addition, a Thanksgiving meal was prepared by members and shared with anyone who came to the hall. It was a festive, grateful day.
The best example of community I have seen this year involves our entire small community coming together each summer to pain a beautiful mandala right beside the beach.
This winter, I have seen many acts of kindness between families in my community. While all of these are worthy of praise, this isn’t about them… maybe it shines a light a little deeper into the human spirit. Mahatma Gandhi said “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” Recently I have been acqainted with an organization who helps abandoned or otherwise displaced pets find forever homes. The group is made up of random people, in all walks of life, working in concert, often freely giving up hours or even days to transport and serve the needs of someone else’s future animal companion. I am so thankful that there are such selfless people in our community. Not only do they serve the animal, but they serve the individual or family who will soon be part of the animal’s life. These folks embody the spirit of Christmas, all year long.
Our local feed store is run by a very generous Lady named Patti. She donates a huge area of her store to the local food bank for a small second hand shop. All proceeds go to the Food bank. When there are no volunteers to sell/collect money. Patti is there to put her work aside and step into that role too! She is great!
I was tickled to see a “Pet Angel Tree” for our local animal rescue group. They struggle so much for funds all year long and do such a good job…..it was really great to see folks at the tree excited to buy pet supplies 🙂
A great example of how a local community worked together was this summer when there was that helicopter fuel spill near Slocan. Within minutes there were posts all over about people opening their homes and properties to families and livestock affected by the spill. Everyone was trying to help if help was needed. Another one that really warmed my heart was when a young boy from Castlegar who’s bike was stolen. This boy has some type of disability and the family had saved for this special bike for him. Within days local businesses and people had made donations to replace the bike for this boy. They donated so much money that they had more than they needed and the extra went to another local charity.
The best example of community I’ve seen this year was set up by the daughter of a friend. All of her own idea, she decided that she wanted to do a teddy bear drive to provide bears to her local childrens hospital, and to the children at the women’s shelter in her city. Her mother spread the word, and so many people donated bears, shipping them from all over the world! To me, it was a beautiful example of taking care of the most vulnerable members of our community, and it was beautiful to see so many step up to help.
In November my son and his family including five of their children placed collection boxes in local businesses and the hospital and received donated coats of all sizes. On a Saturday at the end of the month they and some friends met in a parking lot and gave free hot chocolate to whomever stopped by and coats to any who needed them. Posters in business windows let the folks in the area know in advance where to go. The neighborhood was happy and blessed and they are looking forward to next year and another effort to help the less fortunate. They are just an ordinary family and their friends who decided to do something good. Thank you for the give away. Merry Christmas!
My wife and I were walking past a local store in Kamloops a few days ago, and we saw a group of people huddled around an elderly man who had collapsed/fallen on the ground. We don’t know the details of the situation but noticed how random people were doing everything they could to help him. The man had been brought many blankets to keep him warm in the frigid temperatures, and other people were directing traffic in the parking lot. It was an inspiring sight.
I worked at a place years ago and we all volunteered our time on Christmas day to feed a local children’s home. We prepared the food, served it, eat with the children then cleaned up. They were so appriciative and most of us brought toys for them as well. These children didn’t have families to buy for them and the home just didn’t have much money. It really makes you feel good when you walk away and realize how happy you just made someone.
The best example of community living was when we moved to our rural property in New Brunswick in July 2010. We took 3 weeks to travel across Canada, had break downs in every province and were exhausted as we pulled into our 50 acres and 100+ year old house located 1 hour from the nearest town. We had no water. For a week, neighbours showed up daily, helping us get the water to work, well to work, house in basic running order. People we did not know spent hours and days helping us. For no other reason than to be welcoming to us. It was an amazing way to join our new little community of about 100 people and we have never forgotten it. Loving the rural life!
I am just starting to learn about essential oils. I have been reading as much as I can about them. I cant wait to use them! I hope I win!
The best example of community… Well we just moved to Savannah Ga and we don’t know very many people yet. We only have one neighbor… and older man and his wife. We have been trying hard to turn our 14 acres into a self sustainable, fully functional farm and he has been an amazing help! He has offered us the use of his tractor and plow many times. I have been taking them vegetables as they ripen and they save cuttings from their plants for me. Its so wonderful to have a feeling of community even if the “community” is just two houses! We live outside city limits and there isn’t much around us so its very nice to have our neighbors!
A disabled widower (due to a wreck involving an 18 wheeler), who has a severely mentally disabled daughter, recently lost his other daughter to a car crash. She, apparently, was the family’s cook, housekeeper, sitter, educator and breadwinner. It was heartening to find how our community came together to help with the funeral expenses and future ongoing care for his mentally disabled daughter. This is for them. http://www.northjersey.com/news/Friends_family_remember_.html?mobile=1&ic=1&iphone=1
First of all let me say that I live in a great rural community in Northern Arizona.
It is normal daily life to help each other, If some one is sick we just seem to cover what ever they need.
We really don’t think to much about it. Here is my favorite story though about a dear friend we will just call The egg man. The Egg Man is an elderly gent that lives in our community. He is quite disabled yet he gets out in the community to do good. After losing his job he felt displaced so he got up one day packed up some eggs in cartons and went visiting. He left eggs for all of the neighbors and got several of us started on our own egg production. When ever he saw a need that another neighbor might be able to fill he would come by with his eggs and a smile and say something like ” you know ole Bob across the field he sure could use a hand with his garden I bet your tractor could do the job real fast” None of us could ever say no to the egg man and we all got to know each other better. A simple thing but real community spirit. Now a lot of us still share equipment, time and lots of fun. Thanks to The Egg Man!
A few weeks ago Calgary was under a blizzard warning with heavy snow and extreme winds. Local highways were closed, motorists were stranded and entire communities were unable to get out because the wind had created drifts that were 8′ high in places. Driving was a nightmare with buses and small cars stuck everywhere. It was amazing how many people spent hours with their 4×4 trucks and a tow rope pulling out vehicles that were stuck.
Our small community of Powell River, BC , always seems to make things happen but the two there at actually two that happened over a facebook community page in the last two weeks, the first being a young gentleman sown on his luck , looking for work to buy food. People took it upon themselves to stop and give him money , food and shelter for his girlfriend and himself. The second was someone looking for firewood for an 81 yr. old lady who had no hest. Two cords of wood were dropped off along with many other things because of communication over a local website.
I saw something wonderful today that brought tears to my eyes. I was late getting my Angel Tree items turned in for the 2-year-old I chose off the tree at a local department store, so I took them to the old Giant grocery store where the Salvation Army is set up this year. They receive donations and give them to families in need. There were several cars out front where families were pulling up to receive their gifts and the volunteers cheerfully filled the cars with bags of toys and new bikes for lucky youngsters. Inside was an incredible array of boxes, bags, large toys and assembled bikes as well as numerous volunteers setting things up, organizing gifts, taking in donations and giving gifts to families. Everyone was friendly & warm & it gave me such a good feeling that our community was stepping up to help others <3
helping our older neighbors get and cut firewood for the winter
My church is a wonderful example of community! Last week a friend came into contact with a needy family and within a few hours we had collected enough food to feed them for two weeks, what an amazing feeling it is to help someone alongside others!
Our Toys for Tots program is so strong. So many of the volunteers work so hard to make sure that every child has a Christmas present.
We (our community) just look out for each other. If someone is sick, we make a meal, see to it animals are fed, or chores are done. If someone needs help, someone else is there with a hand. We even share garden chores. If I grow tomatoes, and you grow potatoes, we share, with each other, and everyone else. That is what neighbors do.
In my community a Good Samaritan recently found an unmarked envelope with $1500 in it at the local Post Office. She wrote “Found Envelope” and her phone # on it and turned it in empty to the Postmaster. She received a call later that evening and was able to return the money to a very grateful elderly lady who had dropped it while mailing her Christmas cards.
I’ve seen so many great examples of community in my new rural community, but none so close to home as when I received a call from a pastor from a local church, whom I did not know, who had heard that my barn roof got damaged in a storm and wanted to see if I needed any help. It was a total surprise and since I hadn’t told too many people, I was taken back by the offer to help. It renewed my faith in good people
This year our church community put together 30+ packages of food to bless families in need! It was great to see everyone so willing to give.
Our community came together when a family lost everything in a fire..people donated items and paid off the 5,000 vet bill of there only pet to survive..
We had a local family loose their home in a fire just 3 weeks ago. With it, they also lost their father and one child of a set of twins. The community outpouring has been so great, they are having to turn down donations or send them to other services. I could not imagine such a loss at this time of year, but the community outpouring for this family has shown me just how much I have to be thankful for.
The SHARE Society Thanksgiving food drive and how communities across BC came together with hundreds (thousands?) of volunteer hours to organize, collect and donate records amount of food for those in need.
Community! My dear friend’s son was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia and the community raised money, supported the family as he lived at the hospital for 6 months during treatment. Food, love, place to stay near the hospital, taking care of other kids, sending Reiki, and fund raising! He is now in remission and doing well! The community support helped the family to be with their son/ brother in his time of need and not starve or become homeless.