This post is part of the 25 Days of ZING: Holiday Season Giving Challenge that the team at Creative Zing is participating in December 1 – 25.
On my way into Starbucks I noticed a homeless lady and her dog sitting outside. On my way out I offered her money so she could buy some food for herself and treats for her dog.
-Rich O’Sullivan
This post is part of the 25 Days of ZING: Holiday Season Giving Challenge that the team at Creative Zing is participating in December 1 – 25.
As a displaced Florida girl, I love snow. At the beginning of winter (before it gets slushy, dirty, and tiresome) it gives everything an enchanted quality that makes me feel like a little kid. However, if you’ve just moved to a new country & don’t have a car, snow complicates the simplest errands and makes being outside miserable.
While standing in line at the store today, I met a couple who just moved to Misawa from Phoenix, AZ. We all had a laugh about how snow is a novelty for us, and then set off to brave the elements. As I was pulling out of the parking lot, I noticed the couple schlepping their bags through the flurry of flakes toward the road.
Now, Misawa is pretty small, so I knew they couldn’t be walking far. However, bad weather makes even a short distance seem like a marathon. I pulled up and offered them a ride, then chauffeured them to their hotel with the heat on full blast. The walk that would have taken them 10 minutes was behind us in 2, and I was on my way.
-Tracy Danaher
This post is part of the 25 Days of ZING: Holiday Season Giving Challenge that the team at Creative Zing is participating in December 1 – 25.
Day 18
PETCO’s organization PETCO Foundation holds a “Tree of Hope” Fundraiser through December 24 that benefits humane groups and provides hope to homeless animals. Also, for each bag of Iams purchased, $1 will be donated to the foundation to help homeless pets.
I rounded my bill up at my recent visit to PETCO, with the money donated to help feed and house animals in shelters. Nothing huge, but animals need some love too.
-Rich O’Sullivan
Day 19
My wife and I had access to free Orlando-area theme park tickets and since we’re annual pass holders decided to offer them to friends. We invited a couple who have a new born and hadn’t been to the theme parks. It was a chilly start to the day (by Florida standards) but we had great time on the rides and enjoyed the Christmas decorated theme park.
-Armando Triana
Day 20
I was cleaning out the Zing storage area and collected miscellaneous t-shirts, books and DVDs from past and completed programs. They all were extras and I decided to drop them off at a non-profit organization that will give them away for free to those in need and who would enjoy the gifts.
-Nicole Dolan
This post is part of the 25 Days of ZING: Holiday Season Giving Challenge that the team at Creative Zing is participating in December 1 – 25.
On Monday night, two little Zingers (aka Carli and Will Eurton) joined me to help make their grandmother’s Christmas gift even that much more special. We attended Emeril Lagasse’s book signing at Universal’s CityWalk where not only did we purchase his new cookbook, 20-40-60 Fresh Food Fast but we met him and had it inscribed especially for her — “To Madre with Love and a BAM from Emeril.”
She is going to LOVE this gift, especially when we tell her the story of how we met him in person. SSSSSHHH… for anyone who knows her, please don’t tell her because we want it to be a big surprise!
Giving gifts with an extra special touch are magical. Think about how you can add a little magic to your gifts this year.
-Tori Eurton
This post is part of the 25 Days of ZING: Holiday Season Giving Challenge that the team at Creative Zing is participating in December 1 – 25.
My act of giving for today was to share a little piece of Japan with the team holding down the fort back at Zing’s offices. For those who haven’t heard, I’ve been working from Japan for quite awhile now & am so grateful for the opportunity to experience a whole new culture.
Japan has a wide variety of culinary delights, so I put together a little holiday care package for my colleagues back home: squid cakes, apple kuchi, and some swanky apple juice from a nearby orchard. All of the items were made locally, so it was a “taste of Aomori” if you will.
The comments I got back were pretty hilarious, but I think they enjoyed the goodies. I’ve tried all the items before and can personally vouch for them; they may sound scary but they’re actually pretty good. Next time, however, I think I’ll send some stuff that is a little more adventurous…
-Tracy Danaher
This post is part of the 25 Days of ZING: Holiday Season Giving Challenge that the team at Creative Zing is participating in December 1 – 25.
OK, we’ve dropped the ball on blogging daily but definitely NOT on gift giving. Here’s the last 4 gifts we’ve given as a team:
Day 12
Similar to a Halloween Boo, my family and I went on a secret mission and dropped a special gift on Tori’s doorstep. Last year my family surprised her family with an illuminated outdoor reindeer. We kept the tradition going this year with a 4-foot lit snowman with grape-vine arms, button nose and mouth. So I guess you could say her family got HOed!
-Pamela Aniello
Day 13
For many of us the holidays are a time of cheerful excess. But not for everyone. In these tough financial times, some families need a little extra help trimming the tree. This year, a group of friends and I got together to sponsor a family for Christmas. Nothing crazy – just some groceries, Christmas dinner, and presents for the kids. Because we did it as a group it didn’t cost much individually, and it feels great to get into the spirit of holiday giving.
-Tracy Danaher
Day 14
My gift for today was providing Nicole a ride to the airport. There was no traffic to or from the Zing office so she made it on time – glad I could help!
-Armando Triana
Day 15
We all participated in today’s gift: sending a printed “Thank You” postcard to U.S. military personnel stationed oversees. In 3 easy steps you can send a FREE semi-personalized printed postcard (designed by children) to our troops via Xerox’s “Let’s Say Thanks” program.
If you haven’t already, we strongly encourage you to visit the program website to send your own message this holiday season!
This post is part of the 25 Days of ZING: Holiday Season Giving Challenge that the team at Creative Zing is participating in December 1 – 25.
We’ve all been there when we were just seconds too late and, no matter how much we begged and pleaded, there was no stopping the police officer from writing the parking ticket.
Today, Tori and I were on our way to grab lunch with pockets full of change and decided to drop coins into meters we passed that were about to expire down the streets of downtown Orlando.
It was actually really fun dropping nickels, dimes and quarters and adding a few extra minutes to a stranger’s meter. We didn’t see or meet any of the car owners who were parked, but we hopefully prevented from them getting an expensive ticket.
-Nicole Dolan
Were you parked at a meter in Downtown Orlando today and “miraculously” had extra time on your meter? Please let us know!
And next time you’re not sure what to do with that extra change jangling in your pocket, why not help someone who’s meter has run out?
This post is part of the 25 Days of ZING: Holiday Season Giving Challenge that the team at Creative Zing is participating in December 1 – 25.
Whether we drive them every day or only occasionally, toll roads can be a hassle if not expensive.
That’s why we LOVED this gift-giving story from Zinger Tracy Danaher:
It’s a small gesture, but today I made an effort to bring a little holiday love to the streets. Japan has a ton of toll roads, so this afternoon I paid the toll for the car behind me. I have no idea who they were or if it made them smile, but I hope my tiny contribution made their day.
-Tracy Danaher
Why not make a stranger’s morning commute special or a neighbor’s drive-home memorable?
Let us know if you do!
This post is part of the 25 Days of ZING: Holiday Season Giving Challenge that the team at Creative Zing is participating in December 1 – 25.
Last night I attended a wonderful event called JUGS (JUST US GIRLS).
Guests were encouraged to bring new or gently-used purses/portfolios to benefit the Women’s Residential Counseling Center in Orlando. More than 25 women enjoyed the evening together while helping at least 25 other women in need.
The WRCC is part of the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida and is a 138-bed facility, which includes emergency beds for victims of domestic abuse. Clients who live at WRCC are case managed, and have access to a wide variety of resources and services, including an on-site Early Childhood Development Center, counseling and job placement.
In essence it was a ladies night out with a purpose!
-Tori Eurton
Feel free to visit the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida website to learn more about their services and the Women’s Residential Counseling Center in Orlando.
If you are interested in giving a donation, CLICK HERE.
This post is part of the 25 Days of ZING: Holiday Season Giving Challenge that the team at Creative Zing is participating in December 1 – 25.
Zingers Rich O’Sullivan and Armando Triana were invited on a personal tour of the Orange County Regional History Center this morning.
A great experience and a must-do for locals and visitors to Orlando!
The History Center is hosting “Holiday Happy Hour For The History Center“ at Urban Flats in Downtown Orlando TONIGHT.
Here’s the event details:
WHAT: Enjoy appetizers, wine and friends at a Holiday Happy Hour
WHERE: Urban Flats – Downtown Orlando
183 S. Orange Avenue
WHEN: TONIGHT, December 8 / 6-8PM
WHY: To benefit museum education programs for children and adults.
$15 of every $20 ticket purchased goes directly to providing programs that
enrich our community.
HOW MUCH: $20 – includes appetizers and wine
BUY TICKETS: Call 407-836-8590, reserve ONLINE or AT THE DOOR!
We’ve bought our ticket, have you? Let us know if we’ll see you there!
