Nine months ago at what felt like rock bottom, I started this blog. I couldn’t imagine things getting any worse than they already were and I knew (after a few days of wallowing in my own self-pity) it was time to make myself accountable for what I’ve done to my future, my children’s future and to our financial stability.
Since then I have been blessed with a number of people who have offered to help out. It has always seemed like when I didn’t think I could last another week in this situation, someone would contact me and offer to help.
Each and every time, I have felt depressed & disappointed for needing a helping hand. I have felt my pride shrink just a bit more and even felt some shame for accepting the help.
However the emotion I felt more than any other is Love. Love from total strangers. Love from people who didn’t really know me, just read the words I had to share. Love from people who wanted nothing more than to pass on what someone once did for them.
And that Love is what I try to keep in my heart and mind each time I’m faced with adversity.
I’ve also had the luck of stumbling onto a few blogs and websites that have impressed and inspired me. These websites are written by people who have been where I am, who are working on coming out of debt and who are passionate about helping others.
Two such websites are the blog, Budgets are Sexy and the website It Starts with Us.
J. Money (J$) is the author of Budgets are Sexy. I love his website. He’s humorous, sarcastic and his wife has pretty awesome taste in music (Boyband-palooza anyone?). He has had more debt than wealth but has turned that around (and this past month, he accomplished a huge goal! Congrats J$!)
Nate, the founder of It Starts with Us is out to change the world. His platform for changing the world is the concept that “all it takes is 15 minutes a week to touch hearts and change lives.” He is building a community of individuals, organizations and companies to help change the world.
The two of them came together to form
Love Drop is a micro-giving network of people who unite as a community to help one person or family a month. By subscribing to the team for as low as $1, they make it easy for their members to change lives in a fun and tangible way. Each month Love Drop delivers a unique combination of unexpected financial gifts, personal encouragement and the support of local and online communities.
Every month the Love Drop community comes together to raise as much support and awareness as we possibly can. It starts on the website – LoveDrop.us, gets spread across our entire network of blogs, continues through the forums where all our members are brainstorming, and finally lands on the front steps of our recipients. Literally.
At the end of every month, Nate and J$ show up in the town the people live in to deliver this pile of goodness. The money, the gifts, the services, everything! It’s all on film, and it all ends with an amazing outpouring of love. And then it starts all over again the next month. Help them, and their flagship partner, Kona Grill; make this drop in Chicago amazing!
Inspiring isn’t it?
I want to be a part of this and while I can’t contribute financially right now, I am contributing by spreading the word. I plan to bring this post to you each month and introduce you to the individual who is receiving the month’s Love Drop .
This month it is Jill. Her story brought tears to my eyes. And made me realize that when I thought I was at rock bottom, I really wasn’t. Jill is working hard to overcome a tremendous amount of adversity and I want to commend her for pushing forward when so many of us would have thrown in the towel.
If you would like to help out and drop Love on Jill here is how you can help:
This project is all about coming up with creative and fun ways to make a difference for someone. Here’s what you can do to make our first Love Drop special for Jill and her family:
Join the team – Become a member by paying whatever you want. Even $1.00.
Join our blogger network - Blog about our Love Drops once a month! It’s easy, it’s rewarding, and it REALLY helps spread the word (which in turn helps the families!). Love Drop will give you all the content you need.
Give a gift or provide a service – Gift cards, household goods, football cards/jerseys for the boys, web design services, pampering gifts for Jill, etc. (email all ideas/questions to team (at) lovedrop.us, and we’ll make it happen)
I’m a bit delayed in getting this post out but there’s still time to drop a lot of love on Jill before the end of the month.
And to Jill, should you ever stumble onto this blog; I wish you loads of luck in the future and a lifetime of Love.
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Thank you SO MUCH for spreading the word Jessica!!!! This is huge, wow. The whole community is really coming together for Jill & her family this month, and we can’t wait to show everyone what we’ve done (and how easy it is to help!). You rock – thank you.
-J$
J. Money(Quote)
You are very welcome, but I don’t rock all that much, it’s you and Nate!
I look forward to seeing the Love that has been given to Jill. And hopefully being able to help out more than just a blog post.
DebtPrincess(Quote)
Thank you so much for passing this along! Paying it forward one reader at a time – I love it!!
Kelly(Quote)