ConAgra employees work (and play) to end child hunger

As a blogger ambassador for ConAgra Foods' Child Hunger Ends Here campaign, I've mentioned a couple times the passionate involvement in the campaign by a handful of musicians. Jewel, Jay Sean, and Owl City are just a few of the celebrities graciously lending their talents to help end child hunger. But regular folk are doing the same, and none more passionately than the employees at ConAgra Foods who sing the campaign's praises and further its progress on a daily basis.

To share that passion and their hope for ending child hunger, hundreds of ConAgra employees across the country came together for the following video. It's proof you don't have to be a celebrity to make a difference—or to make an inspiring video that elicits smiles and warm fuzzies for all who watch it.

It's simple for those who aren't famous musicians or employees of ConAgra to help end child hunger— and no video-making required. Just purchase specially marked packages of select ConAgra Foods brands (see participating brands below), then visit www.ChildHungerEndsHere.com to enter the eight-digit code from the package. For each code entered, the equivalent of one meal—up to three million meals—will be donated to Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity.

Participating brands:

Disclosure: I have been compensated for my participation in the Child Hunger Ends Here campaign and all posts, tweets and updates related to the campaign.

Today's question:

When did you last work with fellow employees who were as much fun as the ConAgra folks seem?

The Saturday Post: Poem for my grandsons edition

As a grandmother, I'd like to think I have abundant wisdom to share with my grandsons. No need for me to try putting into poetic form advice on being kind and good and true in a world that is often the very opposite of such things, though. Rudyard Kipling already did that—far better than I ever could—when he wrote If.

Kipling wrote If in 1895 in a very different time and place, yet his advice and inspiration still stand true today—for my grandsons, for all of us.

I love Kipling's poem and plan to share it with Bubby and Baby Mac and all my grandchildren to come when they're old enough to understand. Today, though, I'll share it with you.

Enjoy your Saturday!

Shameless self-promotion: If you liked this post—or Grandma's Briefs in general—please vote for Grandma's Briefs in the About.com Favorite Grandparent Blog poll. Vote once per day per email address through March 21. Thank you!

Friday (the 13th!) feel-good: Soulful inspiration

Some of you may already know all about her, but I only recently learned of Mavis Staples, an amazing singer and civil rights activist who has been singing, inspiring, and making a difference far longer than I've been alive. And she's still going at it. Strong.

As her recent collaborator Jeff Tweedy of Wilco is quoted as saying, "Mavis is the walking embodiment of undaunted spirit and courage. She’s an ever-forward looking, positive example for all human beings."

You can quote me as saying Mavis seems far more energetic than the Energizer Bunny, and her positive energy level along with her soulful sounds make her a true inspiration. I can only hope and strive to be even half as positive and vibrant as she is when I reach her age. Heck, I want to be as positive and vibrant as her at my current age!

The following video of Staples and Tweedy covering a Creedence Clearwater Revival song—which also is on her latest album—is one of my favorites from the 72-year-old powerhouse. Love, love, love this woman! (And Tweedy's pretty darn cool himself, too, I must say.)

You can see, hear, and learn more about Mavis Staples on her website or on Wikipedia.

Today's question:

Who inspires you?

Wisdom and wit

While Pinterest, my latest social media obsession, may be the mecca of all things crafty and oh-so-worth cooking, it's also an awesome spot for finding words of insight and inspiration. And you know how I love words...especially in the form of quotes. (And if you didn't know, well, now you do. See? You learn something new every single day here on Grandma's Briefs.)

Here for your reading pleasure are some recently discovered words of wisdom and wit, pinned for future pondering on my Pinterest board titled Food for Thought (attribution given when available):

What if you woke up today with only the things you thanked God for yesterday.

It isn't that I'm not a people person, I'm just not a stupid people person.

Girls are like apples on trees. The best ones are at the top of the tree. The boys don't want to reach for the good ones because they are afraid of falling and getting hurt. Instead, they just get the rotten apples from the ground that aren't as good, but easy. So the apples at the top think something is wrong with them, when in reality, they're amazing. They just have to wait for the right boy to come along, the one who's brave enough to climb all the way to the top of the tree.

(Mothers of daughters, tell your daughters that one. Often. Mothers of sons, urge your sons to be brave. Always.)

You gotta stop wearing your wishbone where your backbone oughta be. ~Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid. ~Albert Einstein

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me." ~Erma Bombeck

Success isn't just about what you accomplish in your life, it's about what you inspire others to do.

PS: If you tried to join Pinterest and were told you've been added to the waitlist, email me and I'll send you an invitation that should allow you to bypass the wait...no strings attached.

Photo: stock.xchng

Today's question:

Where do you like to go for wisdom and/or wit?