OUR 6TH ANNUAL GIVE SOMETHING AWAY DAY POST! by Kim Pfennigwerth

Hooray! Five times we have given books and other items away to recognize this special day and we are back a sixth time to do it again!  After all, what is better for our hearts, our souls, and our spirits than to be part of giving something away.

So for anyone who hasn’t read my past posts on Darlene’s blog, Give Something Away Day is July 15^th. I love a day that encourages us to give something away. After all, you can declutter, dejunk, and lighten your own load. You can also celebrate this day giving away a kindness. You can give away your time with a phone call, check-in on a neighbor, or share a lunch with a friend. How wonderful does lunch out sound after this past year of staying so secluded? Even a picnic lunch that maintains a social distance sounds delicious.

With the pandemic raging over this past year, it is important to still stay safe while also thinking of others. And sadly with this pandemic the news also shows the horrendous uptick in anti-Asian racism. That there has been so much anger, animosity, and racism is even more reason to reach out and give something away especially something heartfelt. 

After watching the Free Bystander Intervention Training by Hollaback! the amount of anti-Asian violence and harassment cannot be overlooked. I am convinced more than ever that giving away kindness is an absolute necessity. With that in mind, Darlene and I have chosen to focus our giveaway this year on books by Asian authors or author-illustrators.

Readers who leave a comment will have a chance to win one of three books. I will give away one copy of Eyes That Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho Illustrated by Dung Ho. It is a beautifully written and illustrated picture book that lyrically celebrates a young girl discovering her own beauty.

My second giveaway is one we can all relate to—a copy of LeUyen Pham’s Outside, Inside that celebrates essential workers and a community coming together to face the challenges of the global Covid-19 pandemic.

Darlene’s giveaway is WISHES, a picture book by Muon Thi Van.

“This rich and nuanced tale illuminates the closely held wishes of refugees the world over. It’s unforgettable.” ― BookPage, starred review

 

Darlene’s review: “A beautiful story, profound in its simplicity. Seventy-five words of heart-wrenching and soul-stirring wonder. Beautifully illustrated and tenderly rendered. A book that transcends time and should be part of every child’s collection.”

       To enter the giveaway, please leave a comment telling us about a kindness you recently gave or received. Your name will be put into a hat and three winners will be drawn at random and announced later this month on the blog. If you share this post on social media, Darlene will give you a second chance to win.

Below please find links to learn about anti-Asian Intervention Training and more by Hollaback! and the links that can always use your time or donations. 

Hollaback!: https://www.ihollaback.org/bystanderintervention/#bystander-stop-harassment

The Innocence Project: https://www.innocenceproject.org/

The Trevor Project: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/

The National Immigration Law Center: https://www.nilc.org/

The Loveland Foundation: https://thelovelandfoundation.org/

National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum: https://www.napawf.org/

Embrace Race: https://www.embracerace.org/

Books for Soldiers: http://booksforsoldiers.com/donate_to_the_soldiers/

Donate Books – Find your public library: http://www.publiclibraries.com/

Dress For Success: https://www.dressforsuccess.org/

Food Bank: http://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-localfoodbank/?referrer=https://www.google.com/

Vietnam Veterans of America: http://www.pickupplease.org/

Volunteer Match: https://www.volunteermatch.org/

 

Kim Pfennigwerth lives in South Carolina with her husband and bouncy boxer and is a lover of books, beach walks, family, kayaking, and kindness in no particular order! She is often spotted reading piles of books while revising her own manuscripts.