Now that the holiday season has officially arrived, many of us are in ultra-consumer mode, buying for ourselves and for others. Before you start eying that new, trendy coat for yourself this winter, take some time to go through your old coats and jackets and donate them to someone in need.
Here are just a few helpful ways to clear your closet and give someone else warmth this holiday season.
One Warm Coat - Search by zip code to find a coat drive happening in your community. You can even think bigger and organize your own coat drive through the site too!
Got an old fur coat? Take it to your local Buffalo Exchange store sometime before Earth Day to donate it to The Humane Society of the United States, and the group will use the fur to warm and comfort orphaned or injured wildlife. The condition of the coat isn’t important, and fur trims, accessories and shearling are acceptable too.
New York Cares
This website is much like One Warm Coat, but is specific to New Yorkers. Find drop-off spots for your coat in the big apple or organize your own drive.
Aside from those three, I'm sure your local shelter or thrift store would be happy to take your old threads off your hands.
I have more than a few coats in my closet that aren't doing much aside from taking up space... they'd be much better off with someone who is less fortunate than me. I think I know what I'll be doing this weekend, and it doesn't involve buying a new coat!
World AIDS Day is December 1, and this year, we're doing something really special. We've teamed up with Direct Relief International in hopes of raising $30,000 by the end of the year. The money raised will go towards supplying AIDS patients in Kenya with much needed medical treatment.
We can't reach this goal without you, our members, and here's how you can help.
1. Dedicate your status to the cause on MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, or any other social network. Update with :
2. Change your default profile picture to the image below.
Click image for full size
3. Invite your friends to join SocialVibe in honor of Direct Relief. Visit their Cause page on SocialVibe and click "Spread the Word." The Top 3 members who recruit the most people to join in support of Direct Relief by the end of the year will win one of three autographed Linkin Park albums.
With your help, we CAN reach our goal by World AIDS Day! To find out more about what Direct Relief is doing to help in Kenya, visit their website.
We give perks away on a weekly basis, but it feels extra good this time because we are officially in the holiday spirit.
To be eligible, choose the appropriate brand as your Sponsor and add your badge to your social networking profile. The more days the badge is up, the more entries you have to win. We'll be announcing the winners here on The Vibe after they are chosen.
Good luck everyone, and keep an eye out to see who won last week's perks!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!! We hope you are all taking time today to eat way too much food, bake the heck out of some pies, enjoy your family and friends, and above all, think about what it is in your life that you are thankful for.
"This year, the thing I'm most thankful for is family. This includes my “new” family (I got engaged this year!), the great people I get to work with everyday at SocialVibe (my “extended family”), as well as the growing number of people who have joined SocialVibe (my “extended, extended family”) that are making a real difference in their world by using SocialVibe. I am especially thankful to know that the work of the our team, our great charity partners, and all of the people using SocialVibe have given other people the chance to be thankful for something." - Joe M
"I am thankful for everyone in world today who has their health, family, friends, and open minds and a hopeful spirit for a better tomorrow." - Dave Z
"I am thankful for having the opportunity to pursue my goals." - Billy
"My family (including my dogs and cats!), my best friends, and the fact that I get to listen to Christmas music for the next month without people thinking I'm a weirdo like they do when I listen to it in July. I'm also thankful that SocialVibe is a dog-friendly office." - Lauren
"This Thanksgiving, I am most thankful for being surrounded by loving people. With negative news being shoved down our throats constantly, it has become very clear to me that ultimately everyone is hopeful, optimistic, and doing their best (however insignificant it may seem at times) to make the world better." - Chris
"Thankful for Mothers, and Fathers, and Grandparents too... for Aunties and Uncles and friends old and new." - Duke
"We live in a society in which people always seem to want more. What we have is never enough. We are uber-consumers and obsessed with stuff. My house is filled with stuff that we don't need, yet we find a way to continue buying things. Am I thankful for what we have? Absolutely, I am thankful for the option to consume more and more." - Toni
"I'm thankful for a new Vibe redesign coming soon!" - Aaron
"I'm thankful that we have such a passionate community devoted to supporting the causes they believe in. I'm also blessed to have my health, my family, and some of the best friends in the world. I'm also thankful for coffee, because without it, this blog wouldn't be half as exciting for you." - Sarah
"I'm feeling sick, so right now I'm thankful for soup." - Greg
"I'm thankful all the SocialVibers are going to have Goal Pins soon so they can proudly display the goals they help reach to all their friends." - Dave L
"I'm thankful for a dedicated and passionate SocialVibe team that works tirelessly to bring our vision of "giving back for free" to the masses of the world. I'm thankful for the rapidly growing SocialVibe community and their continued support in helping the charities and causes that really matter to them. I'm thankful for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring millions of people together to help make the world a much better place for generations to come." - Kurt
So what are YOU thankful for? Tell us in the comments!
Up until now, the only way you could get your hands on this exclusive SocialVibe merch was by signing up for our Street Team. Fortunately for you, we've made it available for purchase, just in time for the holidays!
You will no longer have to stare longingly at photos of your friends in SocialVibe hoodies - just scoot on over to the SocialVibe Store and buy your very own.
Also up for sale are t-shirts, water bottles, slap bracelets, pens and backpacks - all branded with the SocialVibe logo.
The t-shirts and hoodies are printed on American Apparel and are a complete steal at only $15 and $25 each. Visit STORE.SOCIALVIBE.COM to check them out and get your own today!
First things first, are we gorgeous models or what?
Get Sponsored, Give Back.... and look good while you're doing it.
It's a little quiet in the SocialVibe offices now that d00d has gone home for Thanksgiving, but he left us with this sweet video to fill the ever present void.
Does your dog bark and wake you up in the morning? Hey, at least it doesn't sound like this.
Eleven year old Brenden Foster did something in his life that only a few people can claim: He left the world better than he found it. In his eleven years, Brenden started an amazing charitable movement. After being diagnosed with terminal leukemia, he made one final wish: to help the homeless. People in Seattle, Los Angeles, Pensacola and Ohio answered Brenden's call and helped the homeless in his honor.
This video about Brenden from CNN is extremely touching - Brenden speaks wise words, and says of his life, "I've had a great time."
"He's left a legacy, and he's 11," Brenden's mom says in the video. "He's done more than most people ever even dream of doing, just by making a wish."
We should all live by Brenden's example. There is so much all of us can do to help those in need. Share what you have with others this holiday season, and send warm thoughts to Brenden and his family.
Today we declare Brenden a permanent, honorary member of our SocialVibe community.
