Friends Are Not Just for Facebook

    My newer pals are always kind of amazed that I have such a large group of friends, especially from back home in West Virginia. I attribute that to a few thing: many of us come from Irish and Scottish stock, so we tend to be a wee bit clannish. We also check in on each other and get together quite regularly. There are the occasional squabbles but when trouble comes knocking, we have each other's backs all the way. It's a beautiful thing. When somebody moves, we are there to pack up and tape up boxes. when somebody is sick, we are there with homemade soup and a listening ear. To me, friendship is one of the most important things in the world and it is not just a phenomenon that takes place on social media.

200 Squares a Day

     Do you know how much an elephant needs to eat each day? At least 200 pounds of chow! Spring for $30 and you can feed a retired elephant all day long. Many of the denizens of the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee are former showgirls who left the three-ring circus behind them. Check out elephants.com for more details.

Wild in the Streets

     I live in a nice town adjacent to Berkeley, California, that is very urban, but I have a big o' backyard, which I love- it is the reason I live here. I have raccoons, a family of squirrels, and a pair of deer who seem to love the yard as much as I do. One of the older trees bears a huge amount of apples every fall, much more than my boyfriend and I can cook or eat, not to mention our friends, coworkers, and deer and squirrels. So we bag up the extra apples and take them to a place where deer congregate at the edge of the woods a few blocks away. Every time I deliver a new bag, I see lots of deer tracks, showing that my four-legged friends enjoy their apple a day. So before you just compost the extra bounty of your garden or fruit trees, take a look around and see what else might appreciate a neighborly gesture.

Warm and Fuzzies

    Maybe you want to cozy up with your newly adopted loved one- the World Wild Fund has a stuffed representation of every imaginable animal, bird, fish, or beyond. For a mere $55 donation on wildlife.org, you get an adoption certificate, a gift bag, and the long-distance love of a beastie! You can also get a photo of your new baby to show off to the relatives at holidays (what grandparent could resist a three-toed sloth, smiley orca, or scaled anteater in the family, really?)

Take a Walk on the Wild Side

     You know you want to adopt a wild animal, don't you? Oceana's Adopt an Animal program allows you to befriend (from a distance) a whale, manatee, puffin, sea turtle, or any number of beautiful sea creatures. Swim on over to oceana.org and bask in the richness dwelling within Earth's oceans.

Listening Is an Act of Love

     We don't always have to donate time and energy to other parts of the world. Sometimes help is needed much closer to home. Is a parent, sibling, spouse, or friend having a difficult time? Help them lift their spirits by letting them experience that loving feeling. Come home with takeout for the two of you, surprise them with a simple gift, or go on a drive together. Lean forward and listen closely. Just listen.

Have Mercy

 Donate a gift through Mercy Corps. It's as simple as this: choose a gift on their website. The recipient gets a card that explains the gift and donation made in their name, and your gift helps families in need. Visit gifts.mercycorps.org to view the gift selection, ranging from clean water to a goat. You can choose to remain anonymous or you can personalize with a friendly note to a family on another part of the globe. It's really nice to see how your gift is of benefit and people have developed long-distance friendships through this kindly organization. Often, the daily headlines are reflected by the regions presented. Currently, families affected by Ebola and coronavirus need all the help we can give.