Absolutely BillW...there needs to be an intervention, and refusing to allow posts concerning the troll is a great idea...what a lot of us have been advocating will now be forced on everyone...tough love...always works.
Gee...no more MsLilly and no more troll for a week...what will we do?
How about discussing the issues that are fast approaching for the Town, like the election and spring Town Meeting.
Lots of work that doesn't need any distractions.
I think that BillW is right and this will change the attitudes and posts dramatically on this site for the better.
Let's start talking about Thanksgiving and what can be done to help those who have nothing.
You are a very generous group of people. Caring, kind, empathetic and magnanimous.
It's time to think positive and end the negative for awhile.

Dan:
I couldn't agree more! Families need donations of food for Thanksgiving, many are hurting here, even those who are hurting but not as bad off as thers can spare a can or two from their cupboards.
Every week I shop from couponmom.com, she puts together all the sale ads and matches the coupons (tells you which week they were in he paper), this info is all free, all she asks is that you donate items to the food bank and she even recommends those items on the list as charity.
I have saved so much money with coupon mom that we are now doubling or tripling our charity each week. It doesn't take a lot of time, maybe 20 minutes to prepare my shopping, I log in and check off what I am buying print my list, grab my pile of coupon books, look for the dates and coupons I want and off I go.
Hopefully others can find her site helpful, save a few dollars on their groceries, and give a little extra with the money they save.

Larry, Agree. To borrow a phrase:

HAD ENOUGH YET?
TAKE BACK WAREHAM
FOCUS!!

I started a family tradition last year.
I don't know why I did it.
You know how you are sleeping, wake up, and have a mission given to you and you don't know why?
Last year, two days before Thanksgiving, I went to the Publix Supermarket and asked to buy 10 turkeys.
Having spent many years within the Law Enforcement and Court systems here, I knew where the real "poor" people lived. I am talking about people who have absolutely NOTHING. No cars, no jobs, on the verge of eviction or already served eviction notices.
We are blessed in my community by having a great wealth of help for the needy. We have a very large Salvation Army facility, and several food bank facilities, as well as homeless shelters and places for those without anything to eat.
But, I thought, what about the people who can't get to the Salvation Army. No transportation, and no relief for Thanksgiving.
So, since I couldn't buy frozen turkeys, I bought fresh turkeys (more money, obviously), drove over to the poorest neighborhood I knew of ( I was armed...don't try this in a high crime neighborhood unless you are well trained and vigilant...people will steal from you), met a man that knew everyone and those who really needed help,(including him), and passed out the turkeys. They were all gone within 15 minutes.
People were grateful, lots of "God Bless You'" and wonderful looks on the faces of those mostly women and children that would not have eaten a Thanksgiving dinner.
I realized that I was not thinking as much as I should. It was spur of the moment.
So, at Christmas, I went early to Publix, put together 10 packages with a turkey, 5lbs. of potatoes and a gallon of milk. I then delivered them to the poorest low income apartment complex in the City.
So, this year, I am packing up 20 boxes of Thanksgiving food that will include a Frozen turkey, probably 10-12 lbs., 5 lbs. of potatoes, a gallon of milk and a pumpkin pie.
Yesterday I went to the low income apartment complex I dealt with last year.
The managers at the apartment complex will pick 20 of the neediest families, and we will deliver the turkeys and the fixins' on Tuesday before Thanksgiving. One of the maintenance men, Tony, recognized me and said "Hey, it's the turkey man!"
None of the people that are given the packages know my name. I'm not in it for recognition. I'm happy being called the "turkey man".
I am not on a crusade, there are too many other people that are...they don't need my help.
But, I know where these packages are going. I will see the people accept them and watch the instant gratification of them knowing they will eat a fine meal for Thanksgiving, the joy of the kids and other family members, and the knowledge that they will share their good fortune with neighbors and family and friends.
Twenty of these packages will feed over 100 people, and I am more blessed than those who receive the packages, because my wife and I will actually witness the wonder of someone receiving something they never expected and the joy of giving.
I believe that the blessings will return to us 10 fold somehow.
I don't think anyone has to go on a scale like 20 packages, but, if you want to feel good, find the poorest and neediest family you can, and deliver the package. Cost, depending on whether the store will work with you, here at least, is about $20.00 per unit.
The good feeling you will get will last for a long, long time, and you will have affected the lives of people you don't know, but they will never forget you.
When I am asked by them how to thank me, I simply say, "Please pass the favor on some day, if you can.").
I hope they have the chance to repay the favor some day.
They will be blessed.

Last edited by danoconnell (2009-11-15 09:58:09)

I'm not sure, Larry, but I'll take either way as a compliment.
By the way, the story above I wrote is not any attempt to impose on anyone doing something they are not comfortable with.
I used to give money, and have donated turkeys in the past with the Salvation Army and the food banks.
Last year I wanted to do something "hands on".
It is not for everyone.
It can be very emotional, in fact ALWAYS is emotional, and it may be too much for some people to submit themselves to.
The most important thing is to find a family with nothing and no transportation to get to a service center.
If you are uncomfortable doing "hands on", maybe you can send a small check to any service center, church, etc. that is raising money and food for Thanksgiving.

Yeah, never mind.