It's a Husker Thing!

Every year in the fall on a football Saturday,

one of our local organizations, the Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach,

looks for volunteers and collects donations for the

working poor and homeless in our city.

Maddy and I volunteered a few years ago, and I had it on 

my list to sign up again this year.

So, we did.  

This year they expanded the locations and collected

at various large box stores, malls and downtown, both

before and after the big football game.

Our assignment was on Friday night at a nearby mall and 

we were doubting how well we might do 

when we first arrived as it was pretty quiet.

However, we soon got into a groove and did fairly well.

A few things we noted.

It's getting to be a debit card world.

Loads of people said they only had debit

cards, no cash or change, so

didn't have anything to donate.

Guess having a little "mad money" has gone the

way of the rotary dial telephone!

My Mother told me to always have

some mad money in my purse or pocket.

Also and this one surprised us.

More young people (jr. high or high school age) and young families

donated than older adults.

Of course, we tried to  make our plea

personal instead of chanting the refrain,

"Huskers for the Homeless."

We looked at shoppers directly and asked, 

"Can you help us feed the homeless in Lincoln?"

Maddy and I think that really helped and made our request more personal.

Side note -- the first time we used that plea, I actually

said, "Can you help us feed the homely in Lincoln?"  

The older guy and I both about fell over laughing,

 and he said yes, here's some $ for the

homely AND the homeless!

We missed the high school homecoming game,

but it was such a great cause and

worthwhile way to spend a Friday evening.

We hope to have more time to devote 

to volunteer work in the future.