Light a Candle, Fill a Bowl, Feed a Kid

Lake McQueeney, Texas

In my previous post I referred to an organization called Rice Bowls.  There's a picture below of a child named Nithin.  He lives in an orphanage in India that Rice Bowls provides funding for. 

An explanation of my off-topic picture above: I love fall,  I love Lake McQueeney, Texas and I love all the colors and senses that fall brings to this place I love.  This is a photo of fall at Lake McQueeney.  It is one of my many, many ways I have been blessed in my life. 

What's in your Rice Bowl?
So my previous post was about the fabulous candles I found that are manufactured by the Bridgewater Candle Company. www.bridgewatercandles.com From the proceeds of the candle sales they fund the nonprofit Rice Bowls.  www.ricebowls.org  As they say, "Light a Candle, Feed a Child".  (My candle continues to be awesome - very slow burning and the scent is a great balance and not at all overpowering.  It's going to last a long time!)

And Rice Bowls' tag line is

     "Fill Bowls - Fight Hunger"

They give groups or individuals the opportunity to provide meals for kids living in Christian orphanages in several developing countries such as Honduras, India and Haiti.  There are marketing products you can buy like t-shirts; the purchase of just one can feed forty children.  But the coolest way to support Rice Bowls is to order free "rice bowls" which appear to be bowls with lids and a slot for change or cash.  They are distributed to groups you're involved in, with inspiration to fill the bowls with contributions.  The bowls and donations are collected at a gathering of the group and a check is sent to Rice Bowls.  


The rice bowl project is a fun, easy and effective way for small work or church groups or school clubs to support children in need of healthy nutrition.

Or if you don't have a group to work with, buy a candle. Or do both! 

You're going to probably buy candles anyway, especially during the holidays. 

 Right?

Nithin

At      just two years old, Nithin settled into his new life at El Shadai Children’s Home in Chennai, India. His mother, affected by HIV, had heard of this caring home through a local Christian social worker. Her desire for Nithin to be loved and taken away from the horrific abuse at the hands of his father led her to El Shadai. Shortly after bringing Nithin to live here, she passed away. Along with his ”band of brothers,” (five little boys close in age) he loves to play soccer, jump rope, and laugh – a lot. His big smile is seen wherever he goes and helps him wiggle out of some of the mischief the “band of brothers” often find themselves in. Nithin may not be a big guy, but his appetite proves that he’s one growing boy! And Rice Bowls is more than happy to make sure that appetite is satisfied.

(from the Rice Bowls web site)

Feed a Child One Candle At a Time

Hand-made from paper by Donald Herring

October 16th is World Food Day.  

More on that below.

There are so many things I could write about on that topic and something happened today that pointed me exactly where I was supposed to go with it.   Nothing is a coincidence, in my opinion.

As I've mentioned before ideas and information that I'm supposed to share kind of just fall in my lap.  Today we were driving on I-20 in Texas and made a quick decision to stop at a random place in a random town where we've never stopped.  It turned out to be a new gas/food/gift shop/all-things-to-all-people kind of place.  I walked into the ladies room and was surprised to see a wonderfully smelling lit candle.  I don't think I've ever seen that in a public restroom before.

It was very attractive and I noticed a lid sitting on the counter that had a tag on it.  Glancing at it I saw a picture of a nine-year-old child named Nithin from India, and a statement that "1 jar candle feeds 1 child for 1 day".  Hummmm..... my kind of thing, for sure!

I wandered around the store and found the candle company's display.  I chose two matching medium-sized jars both with wonderful scents, Vanilla Creme and Remember When, which is actually a cinnamon, fall spice type of scent.  Off to the cash register I went.  All in the name of Blog Research, of course.

Besides a great looking product that smells awesome, burns clean, and lasts for hours, Bridgewater Candle Company does what the tag says it does. www.bridgewatercandles.com They use proceeds from sales of their candles (made in South Carolina, by the way) to provide food for children in several developing countries, many of them in orphanages.  Their nonprofit is called Rice Bowls.  www.ricebowls.org  I will write more about them next week.

If you're buying a gift for yourself or others and it can also benefit someone in need, why not seek that option?  There are so many opportunities to serve in this way.  How easy! Plus the recipient knows you put a little more thought into choosing something special for them.

World Food Day is "A day of action against hunger".  The goal of this annual event is to raise public awareness about hunger challenges and encourage people worldwide to take action in the fight against hunger.  The day is largely about food, farming and hunger.  You are probably already supporting farmers close to home, but there are millions of small-scale farmers around the world that we can support by making more intentional choices at your grocery or by supporting organizations such as Oxfam, www.oxfamamerica.org or you can see other great ideas at the Do One Thing site www.doonething.org

I know I need to do more to help alleviate hunger.  Do you?

What you decide on will be done, and light will shine on your ways. 

Job 22:28

Who Are You Carrying?

Sunset over West Texas

Yes this is a real, untouched photo of a sunset over 
roof  tops in West Texas.  I know because I took it, along with most of the
 pictures I've posted.  None have been touched up. 
Not perfect from a human perspective.  But what an artist the Lord is!

Over time you will see several suggestions of ways to get involved with veteran's and military-related issues.  As the wife of a veteran it's a subject near and dear to my heart.  But I know not all of you are interested so the information will be dispersed throughout several posts.

Who Are You Carrying?

That's the tagline for "Carry The Load", based in Plano, Texas.  www.carrytheload.org According to the web site  "Carry The Load provides active ways to honor the countless military, law enforcement, firefighters and rescue personnel who dedicate their lives to keeping our country safe."  Founded by two former Navy Seals in 2011 the goal is to restore the true meaning of Memorial Day which honors those who have died in uniform.

Personal commentary:  Memorial Day was not designated to celebrate a three-day weekend so that people can barbecue and go to the lake.  And no, it is not, as the media says, an excuse to "celebrate the unofficial first day of summer".  It's about those that paid the ultimate price for their service to America.

Carry The Load's main activities are organized walks on Memorial Day in communities across Texas but these activities are spreading to other cities in the United States.  These walks and runs provide opportunities for people to show honor and appreciation for those that were lost in service to our nation through military service. Carry The Load also honors first responders such as police and firefighters.  

Youth groups and corporations such as Xerox are involved, and a national relay is being expanded in 2016 that will culminate in Dallas.

In 2015 "Carry The Load" made gifts over $1.1 million to seventeen nonprofits that provide direct services to the military, law enforcement, firefighters and rescue personnel.  This is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization.

Organizing a "Carry The Load" event in your community would be fun and memorable way to celebrate Memorial Day.  Or if you just can't tear yourself away from barbecuing at the lake, send them a donation.