Does your small change actually make a difference? Of course it does!
This isn’t the first time I have posed this question on the blog, but I get more and more clear that sometimes we feel we have to do major mitzvahs for things to count or add up in any significant way.
This weekend, my daughter and I spent some time shopping for costumes and other items she needed. We were in one consignment store where the store gives back a nickel to one of four charities (we got to choose) every time a customer provides their own shopping bag. I know that Whole Foods also does this but I haven’t really seen it done else where. Of course, I had to take pictures of the coin canisters and ask how much this project earns for them (much to my daughter’s chagrin). The employee told me that one month they collected $100 to donate to one of the charities. That means that 2,000 people carried their own bags into the store that month. Perhaps $100 doesn’t seem like a lot but it certainly is when you realize it was collected a nickel at a time. In addition, all those customers were also using recyclable bags (one of my favorite earth mitzvah).
Two mitzvah ideas for this week. The first to pay attention to the coin canisters at the supermarkets, pharmacies or where ever they show up and throw in some change. Second, get yourself a recyclable shopping bag and start carrying it beyond the supermarket. Check out Chicobags if you want one that is simple and easy and fits into your purse or pocket. I happen to love these.
I am heading to San Francisco this week, so if you have friends of family in the area, invite them to join me at one of the following events. I’ll also be on Sacramento and Company, Thursday morning. I’ll post the link next week! Here is the pertinent information:
1,000 Mitzvahs 
Happy Travels & Good Luck!
Eric