Thursday, November 21, 2013

Weekend Follies and Holiday Food Drive Blogfest

Holiday Food Drive Blogfest: Sponsored by M.J Joachim and Theresa Downey. The idea behind this blogfest is to give back to the community during this season - to help those less fortunate. Whether the holidays fill you with cheer or dread, helping others is always a good idea.
 
Our church, the Vineyard Community Church of Laguna Niguel, CA operates their Mercy Warehouse.
 
Their Mission: Every day, the VCC Mercy Warehouse takes in tax-deductible donations of unwanted goods, clothing, and furniture. We then sort and store them in our 25,000 square-foot facility. We have warehouse sales on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. We use the profits from those sales to purchase food for needy families both in our own area and abroad. God has blessed our efforts, and through this process we are able provide food for over 1000 people weekly.
 
We fund monthly food donations to Mexico and Santa Ana, and we help to supply several other local food banks. We are a volunteer-run organization. Many members of VCC and other like-minded believers give countless hours every week towards seeing the mission of the Mercy Warehouse fulfilled. We give away food to anyone who needs it.
 
NaNo: I had to call it quits from day one. I really wanted to work on my next book. But it’s important I wrap up Escalation. I’m at just under 90,000 words and 376 complete and edited pages. So close. So very, very close.
 
Weekend Follies: Culture conflict is always a hit when it comes to trying to make your readers laugh. Culture conflict arises you place one person inside the cultural values of a totally opposite person.
 
Rob Schneider did this well in the comedy The Hot Chick, where an attractive and popular teenager who is mean spirited toward others, finds herself in the body of an older man, and must find a way to get back to her original body. Take it away Rob ….
 

13 comments:

  1. A thousand people a week is a real blessing.
    We're waiting for Escalation, so that had to come first! Wish my outline had been ready, but with a vacation in the middle of November, I don't think NaNo would've been feasible for me this year.

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  2. Mercy Warehouse sounds like a fantastic ministry. I didn't Nano this year either- maybe next year?

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  3. Waiting for Escalation. I have never done NaNo and probably never will. I'll still write around 40K this month even with Thanksgiving in there. That's a big month for me. We participate in a number of food drives around here. Our schools and churches all have some during the holidays.

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  4. Seems like everyone is waiting for Escalation. Mercy Warehouse seems to be doing a terrific job.

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  5. The VVC Mercy Warehouse is doing a great thing. Thanks for sharing about it.

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  6. I wanted to do NaNo this year, but just couldn't get my act together before the start. Maybe next year. Good luck with Escalation, I'm sure it's going to be great. (:

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  7. I'm very impressed by M.J. and Theresa's hop, plus the amazing work the Mercy Warehouse is doing. It's wonderful to offer support to those right in your community. Good luck with Escalation, and thanks for the funny clip. I enjoyed that movie. :-)

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  8. Finally seeing this - stopped by a few times yesterday, but for some reason, couldn't access your latest post. Having the same trouble with Alex's post today, I'm afraid. I go to the blog and get reruns. Thanks so much for participating in the blogfest, Stephen. Tina and I are thrilled to have you join us. Sounds like good project on your latest book. Wishing you every success!

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  9. Hi Stephen .. I like the way the Mission works - our Hospice does this .. but the money goes to the new hospice ... whereas your funding of food for families sounds amazing .. that must alleviate so many families and help them in these times of distress ...

    So pleased to see that Escalation is nearly done .. have a good weekend .. cheers Hilary

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  10. Congrats on Escalation drive! More important than nano!
    Food drives are so important this time of the year, kudos to you and your team!

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  11. Yes, you made the right choice, good luck with Escalation.

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  12. Sorry I'm late!!!! WOW. Your church is doing amazing things, I'm so excited for you that you're able to bless so many! M.J and I are thrilled to have you join us as a co-host for next year, and we hope in the years to come.
    Good luck with Escalation!
    Tina @ Life is Good
    Yeah, Tina, not Theresa...but who cares ;-)

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  13. Sometimes churches and those associated can get a bad rap but there is so much GOOD being done through them. Wonderful!

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