I have a strong aversion to anything having to do with math. I feel strongly that economics and the stock market and everything more complex than a checking account is part of a vast governmental plan enacted for the sole purpose of making me feel dumb. But I know enough about these topics to be absolutely certain of one thing: people are hurting.

My travels around the parenting blog neighborhood lately have shown all the proof I’ve really needed. Layoffs. Financial peril. Depression. These are the moments that make it hard to be a grown-up. And as someone who has encountered these very struggles more than once in his life, I’m acutely aware that resurfacing from these sorts of personal crises usually requires the assistance of others. We have to take responsibility for helping one another.

I have long believed that I should find a way to use this site for the good of those who read it. And if there has ever been a time to do so, it’s now. To quote one of my favorite bands, “What better place than here? What better time than now?”

Today is the day to support your friends and neighbors. If you or someone you know is in need of customers or votes or attention or simply a kind word of encouragement, I’d like you to tell us about it in the comments section of this post.

It’s imperative that this open forum not become a platform upon which to rally support for a political candidate or a corporation. Nor should it be used an opportunity to spam us with nonsense or drum up traffic for your blog.

This is about human beings in need. You next door neighbor. Your brother or sister. Maybe even yourself.

Here are my calls for support:

1) A reader named Donald is deeply involved with Little League baseball in Cranston, RI. The league in which he coaches has been entered in a contest whose winner will be given lights for their field. Donald needs 1,500 votes to have a single ping-pong ball in the lottery drum. Please follow this link to vote for Cranston, RI.

2) Hot Wife has a friend named Jen. They’ve known one another since elementary school. A member of Jen’s family is starting a new business called Bagwear USA, which makes and sells an item of clothing that “combines the great look of boxers with the comfort and support of briefs.” I have a pair of these myself and I think they’re pretty damn cool. Please buy yourself and your loved ones a pair (especially for the guys whose wieners always peek through the hole in the front of their boxers at the most inopportune times).

Your turn.

Comments

Great. I can't even call you a corksoaker anymore, because you're being all...nice. Now I'll have to start referring to you as a good guy, and that just feels weird.

My husband and I just recently shut down our business (not the best time to be running a mortgage company, and all), but we're still pretty fortunate folks because he was able to land another job. I suppose if anyone needs a good loan officer, they could contact him though. Any business is real nice right about now. You can connect through my e-mail at momofaliblog@gmail.com.

Oh, and Danny? Thanks.

Crystal over at boobsinjuriesanddrpepper.com is running a paypal account to buy Nintendos for kids that would never be able to have one on thier own. It is a small thing - but will put a smile on so many faces. You can donate on her site.

I don't have anyone I can help out via the internet but wanted to say that gestures don't have to be large and that it's sometimes the smallest ones that make the biggest difference. I suffered with post partum depression, and not once, but twice, had to claw my way up and out to see the sun again. It was the little gestures from my friends and family that went the furthest (that and anti-depressants). The phone calls to check-in, a card dropped off on my doorstep, dinners brought over. Mostly it was just knowing that on those days when I was unable to care for myself or my children. When I wanted to give up and throw in the towel, someone out there let me know that THEY cared. And it was enough to keep me going for another minute, another hour, another day. So if you know someone in need, stop and take a moment to give them a call, a hug, a kind word. You may just save a life.

Also, I did enter a short story contest that is based on votes so if you have a moment, please vote for my entry :)
http://www.momcafe.net/resources/node/77

If you like any kind of pop-country music (think Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood), download my sister-in-law's single from iTunes! She wants to get signed by a record label . . . help spread the word. I think it's great!

Katie Hess - Great Day

What an awesome post. It certainly does SUCK to be a grown up right now.. words can't even begin to describe.

I have such a tendency to get so wrapped up in my own helpless and hopeless situation that I forget how many other people out there are hurting just as much. It makes me sad that I don't know of any particular situation I could share for people to help with. Thank you for posting these opportunities (even if they are small) to lend a hand!!

California needs all the help we can get to urge people to vote NO on Prop 8 -- the marriage ban. Marriage for same-sex couples is finally a reality, and Prop 8 would take it away. PLEASE -- if you can donate, if you can volunteer, if you can just sign the pledge that you'll vote NO -- everythign helps. And if you don't live in California, please pass the word to your friends and family who do!

Thanks

www.NoOnProp8.com

Umm, how about just being a little nicer today? Hold the door open for a mom who is trying/struggling to get through the door of the mall with a stroller and a toddler. Say thank you to the bank employee. Smile at the annoying gossip who sits behind you at work. Wink at the 2 year old who has thrown himself or herself on the ground in a fit when he or she pauses to take a deep breath before screeching some more (and while you're winking at the booger, maybe give mom or dad a sympathetic look cuz we've all be there). And hey, if you have a few quarters in change floating in the bottom of your purse, drop them in the Ronald McDonald's House bin at Mickey D's.

Matt and Aline from Redsparks.com have become great friends of ours, especially since the premature birth of our newest child 3 months ago. They started their business to try and provide a service to parents of preemies, and like most retailers right now, times are tough.

They continue to invest in their business, but they need to keep growing to survive. They always try to support and connect parents of preemies and they have a new series coming called "The Preemie Adventure" http://redsparks.com/playpen/2008/08/12/calling-all-preemies/ where parents can show with pride how far their little ones have come since the days in the NICU.

I would definitely say that giving them your business would be of much greater value to society than a chain/superstore.

Thanks Danny for giving this opportunity to share things to help others that deserve it.

My friend Mandy and her husband Rob have three children of their own and are trying to expand their family by adding three more children from Haiti through adoption. This is a costly process and one that they are coping with, but some extra support would be greatly appreciated I'm sure. They are such an amazing family and doing such a wonderful thing. Part of their journey to raising the funds includes selling Cotton Lunch Bags and Earth Friendly re-usable Produce Bags. All the money goes to their cause.

Please support them in getting their children home to them. I can't think of a better home or this group of siblings to be coming to.

You can buy the bags here

You can read her blog here.

You're totally awesome. This post inspires. Must put on thinking cap and decide how and where to help. Thanks for being fucking awesome.

I, for one, happen to like the random chance of my junk falling out of the boxer hole. But since you're being all nice, perhaps I'll try a pair.

Being a DGM reader for a while now, and living in Cranston, RI, I want to thank you for your post today. I will be sending the info about our little league to everyone I know. I hope it helps!!

I agree on you being f'ing awesome.

So many of my friends and family have cancer, and I'm sure I'm not alone here. It seems to be crazy these days...everybody has cancer. I always feel somewhat helpless, so I pray, give blood, and just try to be a good friend. If you can do anything similar, I know it'll be a huge help.

You're a good man, Danny! And I am blessed to be your wife.

Okay, I voted. I don't actually know of anyone directly who needs help at the moment (and I know that makes me super fortunate, and I'm counting my lucky stars). I'd buy the undies too, but the DH doesn't wear them.

Husband and I have some great friends who run a family-based martial arts studio. They have been nominated in WDIV's 4 the Best contest, and the publicity from winning this would help their struggling business. These are really good people who take you in and make you part of their family, but they've really been under the gun lately because of the economy. Here is where you can vote for them:

http://wdiv.cityvoter.com/ambrose-academy/biz/23292

p.s. I am planning to blog about them on Friday, when I get my biggest numbers, but my numbers are nowhere near yours, so, Thanks, Danny, I feel like I can help!

My best friend and I are participating in the Breast Cancer 3 Day - where we walk 60 miles over 3 days. In addition to walking this ungodly amount, we have to raise a minimum of $2,500 each. If you can spare even a dollar or know someone affected by this horrible disease who might be willing to donate, please visit my fundraising page (http://www.the3day.org/site/TR?px=1416302&fr_id=1184&pg=personal) and/or my friend's page (http://08.the3day.org/site/TR/Walk/DallasFtWorthEvent?px=1499463&pg=personal&fr_id=1184&et=nUDI0WI0YcKKb6gARPnm3g..&s_tafId=6301)

Thank you all - and THANK YOU DANNY! This is a great idea.

My mistake re: above, we only have to raise $2,200 each. Still.

It is very difficult to ask for help, but this post has inspired me to suck it up. There are so many people in need today. My personal story is that I quit work last year (computer teachier) to stay at home with my daughter. We made a good go if it, but I decided to go back to work this year because financially we couldn't hack it. Now I can't find a technology instrustor postion and we are really struggling to buy groceries.

It would be great if any of your readers could just go to my site and click on an add or two to send a few pennies my way. It just might help tide us over until I find a job. Thanks!

Two great causes that are easy, fun, educational, and benefit the entire planet:

www.freerice.com and
www.freepoverty.com

I simply adore these sites because, a lot like this post, now when I'm wasting time at work, I'm actually being productive.

This is not a request for anything but a prayer for my son and his family. I have not written about their "stuff" on my blog as most of my family reads it, and don't really want to make it public, but they are struggling with some major things that involve my grandson getting into trouble with the police, my son being in denial about it, and my daughter in law being stressed out about it. If you believe in the power of prayer, please include them in yours today, and maybe even tomorrow. Thank you.

It's amazing how many people are truly hurting these days, and it keeps getting scarier every day. I can't think of any new cause other than Crystal over at Boobs, Injuries & Dr. Pepper, which was already mentioned above. I think it's awesome that she's using her blog to help kids have a gift that most parents can't afford these days.

I'll check out the undies. Love the name. Keep up the good work, man!

She's been a faithful reader of mine and is trying to drum up more money via blogging... an uphill battle. Give her some traffic, wouldya?

Link: http://yellowjeepblonde.com/

We're going shoppping to donate toys to my wife's co-worker whose going back to El Salvador. It's our "date night" for tonight.

Awww you're the coolest; who do I know that needs a boost? I'll remember soon and come back later.

Go to www.giveatoygetasmile.org and donate to a great cause. This is a charity that is operated by an American living in Cancun, Mexico. (I'm also an American living/working in Cancun also and know that she is totally on the up and up.) This woman (Nancy) uses donations to buy toys for children and delivers them to local hospitals and orphanages. She also gives the kids school supplies and bedding for their beds at the orphanage. These kids really have NOTHING...not even a family, in many cases. I know it's not really helping in your community, but I can honestly tell you that even a few dollars will make a world of difference to some of the children. If any of you will be vacationing in Cancun in the near future, bring toys for the kids. There are drop-off points listed on the site.

By the way, DadGoneMad, I love your blog so much that I don't even mind you taking a sappy turn today. We all need to have a bigger heart these days.

We can also use some free ad space. Thanks Danny.

My husband runs a Gardening business. We do tree trimming, lawn maintenance, clean ups (bushes), sprinklers, new sod. You name it, we do it. We are in the South Bay area but will travel all around LA/Orange County.

Ortega's Landscaping
Serving the South Bay for over 15 Years
(310) 684-9177
ortegaslandscaping@yahoo.com

I just want to say that I think it is so cool that you are using your fame for good. :D

I voted!! That baseball stuff is near and dear to me. I am suffering but not in a bad way. At least my sugar Daddy still has a job. We moved and are paying two mortgages and I will have to get a job...Anyone in the Chicago area/suburbs need a really smart, medically orientated, bs degreed person?
And, for a real cause...Soldiers Angels...a not for profit group that gives a wounded soldier some of the comforts of home and much more. ALL VOLUNTEER and always in need! Thanks, DGM, you are doing a great thing...

http://www.soldiersangels.org/heroes/index.php

As a native Rhode Islander who pines for any news from Lil' Rhody, it is my pleasure to help the Cranston team get their ping pong ball into the lottery drawing.

I've been helping a friend raise money for the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. More information about Mike, the Marathon, and MSKCC here:
http://strongtothefinish.wordpress.com

I'm on the board of directors for the Montgomery County SPCA in New York; with the economic downturn, our shelter, and shelters all around the country, are in desperate need of help, as we are full to capacity!

If you'd like to help our shelter, go to:
http://montgomerycountyspca.homestead.com/

Or, help your local shelter!

Thanks,
Bethany

What an awesome idea, Danny! You rock!

My friend Duane is participating in the Bike MS ride in our state this September. He was diagnosed with MS 5 years ago at age 26. If you'd like to contribute or learn more about Duane, go here: http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR?px=4818604&fr_id=8760&pg=personal

Thanks, y'all, and thanks again, Danny!

If you haven't discovered the joys of Etsy yet, check it out! It's a market site for handmade stuff, from clothing to artwork, food to jewelry. Great place for gift ideas, and supporting artists and artisans all over the country.

Thanks Danny for this post! You have such a huge heart.

As you know, Children's Hospital of Orange County is near and dear to my heart as my daughter has spent more time there than most. My family is participating along with my firm at this year's CHOC/Disneyland Walk in The Park and we'd love any donation! The walk is October 19 this year. The theme is "A Million Reasons to Walk" and one of those reasons is my daughter Jenelle. Please click on this link to make a donation and THANK YOU!

https://www.chocforms.org/chocwalk/2008/sponsor.cfm?DA=sponsorForm&ID=56093

Danny, I am proud of you - for so many reasons...

One of the nurses on the pediatric oncology ward that Ben works on has a knitting podcast. In honor of her first year of working there, she's having a hat drive for the kids and their bald heads. Anyone here knit or crochet? You can knit one hat or a bunch, and for each thing you donate, you get a chance for a super knitting prize!

http://www.stashandburn.com/2008/07/episode-58-nico.html

Give blood today. Almost anyone can do it and it costs you nothing but a little time. While buying underpants is nice, go out and give life.

I've been selling links in my sidebar ($10 each) to raise money for Lisa @ Clusterfook.com - a mom who is battling cancer for the third time. I also donate my BlogHer ad dollars to her every month.

I want to second the suggestion to visit Etsy.com. I'll be selling some of my own handmade items (postcards first, then wall art, tree ornaments and other stationery) there starting in a couple weeks, and any sales I make will not just be profit but diaper money, gas money, grocery money, etc. My postcard designs can be seen here: htp://quietcity207.blogspot.com

I also agree with little things: holding doors open, smiling at a stranger, letting someone in to your long line of traffic, and simply saying thank you (and meaning it) to the employees in the stores you visit.

I would just ask that everyone say a prayer of thanks tonight for Danny and his family, that they be just as blessed as they have blessed others, that more and more people come together just like this to help others. Only good can come from this and the more positive stuff "we" put out there the better the world will get!!! Thanks Danny and everyone!!

What a great topic to be a first-time poster. I really enjoy your writing and your sense of humor and now I can add kindness to that list.

It's so nice to see someone not only take the time to acknowledge that, yes, things suck for a lot of us right now, but that we can try to find a little bit of good out of it.

I don't have a personal recommendation to pass on, but I did click for the little league and I third the recommendation for Etsy. I'm also taking the link another commenter posted about the hat knitting and passing it on to a friend who just started knitting as a hobby and can make hats.

Thanks for making the blog neighborhood feel a little warmer and fuzzier today.

Things are pretty rough here at home. That's our fault, though, in the end, so never mind. Just major suckage. Anyway.

This girl- http://www.angelaboration.com/ is just about the sweetest thing I've ever read, and she just started grad school. She's broke, and through no fault of her own.

For those of you that have nothing but prayers to give (I'm there myself), maybe you could do something for me. My Mom started chemo last week. It's hard, and she's scared, despite being a pretty tough cookie. If you could just send a little strength her way, I'm sure she'd be eternally grateful. (Although, she would never know why because I would sacrifice visible teeth to keep her from my blog.)

I love you Danny. HW is right- you are both very blessed to have each other.

Completely selfish, what with all the causes out there, but here goes:

My husband was laid off (for political reasons *sigh*) the day after Mother's Day, and is still unemployed. I am pregnant with our second, due in nine weeks. And have just three more pay cheques until we have no income coming in.

We're trying to stay positive, but it's starting to get scary.

Good vibes certainly appreciated, and I plan to spend some time tonight doing the same and checking out all the sites above.

I have visited many of the sites above, and left my prayers and good wishes along the way.

My own issues are trite compared to many (I KNOW!), but just found out that a good friend dicked me over in a job we share. I'm crushed and heartbroken...and looking for something else I can do from home and still contribute to the budget. Any leads, suggestions or prayers would be most appreciated!

First - I voted for Cranston. I grew up in Little Compton, and all those towns are a stone's throw from each other. Heck, everything in RI is a stone's throw from everything else!

Second - Crystal at Boobs, Injuries, and Dr. Pepper is doing a fine thing with her Pay It Forward For Kids deal, and I can't donate a dime because my family would like to eat this month. Stupid need for nourishment.

Things are rough 'round here but we'll survive - I've juggled depression and a host of other issues since I was a kid, so it's old hat, and finances are just...well, they are what they are and we'll manage. You'd be amazed how many things you can do with a leftover chicken.

It's cool that you're doing this. Thanks.

Shade and Sweetwater,
K

I am trying to help provide school supplies for homeless children in NYC. I have set up a wishlist for the things they need on Amazon and i literally takes 2 minutes and a couple of bucks to give these kids the fresh start most of us take for granted. If you'd like to read more or contribute:

http://mommypoppins.com/ny-kids/do-a-little-back-to-school-shopping-for-nycs-homeless-children

The few items I could think of have already been mentioned but I have to agree with what someone else said. It doesn't have to be big, what you do...it can be small. Just today I pulled into a gas station to put air in my tire that looked like it had a slow leak. The darn thing didn't work (the guy working there later came out with an out of order sign saying "no air"...duh) and I soon had less air than when I got there...not enough to safely drive off. I stood their panicked, my daughter in the car...and the man walking to his car must have read it on my face. He came up to me, asked if he could help. I explained that I was clueless on these things and he dug right in. Tried and tried but then realized something was broken and said "be right back". Next thing I know, he came out with this leak fixer stuff you put in the tire. After he put it in he said "this'll get you somewhere safe, to fix the tire or whatever you do". When I offered to pay for it, even though I really couldn't afford the $6, but he refused.

Not once did he seem bothered by my idiocy but he was happy to help me out. And he made my day...and week. My girl was amazed by him and even said "you mean people will do things just to help...to be nice?"

So yes, it could be a very little thing to help, but it matters.

This is so nice of you, Danny.

The site is for crafts made my Erin, who, over 2 years ago, went down to Guatemala to foster the daughter she and her husband were adopting. She thought it would be a few months, but it has been over 2 YEARS. So now she and her husband are in living in Antigua, Guatemala waiting for the paperwork snafus to be finished and raising their little girl.

Erin has started a business making beautiful crafts from used Guatemalan huipils (shirts) and other materials. Here is her site http://huipil-crafts.blogspot.com/

Hi Danny (and all) - Not only is your blog great, this is a great idea. I myself had my entire dept eliminated 3 years ago and it's not been fun. For those of you who need marketing help in your business, feel free to check me out at www.cellconconsulting.com.

However, my wife & I started a small side company. If you are planning a wedding, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, or any type of party, check out www.placeseveryone.com. It's a unique seating/floor planner which (so our customers tell us) is "wonderful".

- Adam