Little Big Ideas

For those that know me know that around this time of year… I start getting a bit stranger. Maybe it is the change in the weather that does it for me… or maybe it is the fact that summer is over, playtime is finished and I need something to direct me. Not that the new school year, fall cleaning and upcoming holiday preparations aren’t enough to keep me busy!

Since I was in high school, I have been participating in the, Yoplait Yogurt Save Lids to Save Lives program. Back then, I would buy a yogurt at lunch and mail my few lids in at the end of the year. It wasn’t much, but I felt good knowing that I was doing something. When I moved out and was a poor college student/new mother/housewife/teacher we didn’t have much in the way of extra spending cash, but I would try and spring for the “fancy” yogurt and mail the lids in. I still felt as though I was doing a good thing, though it was a very small thing.

I’ve been a member of the online mom’s community, CafeMom for nearly 3 years now. During October of my first year, CafeMom asked if I would be willing to participate in a, Yoplait Yogurt Save Lids to Save Lives, influencer program. WOULD I EVER!?! At that point I began to wonder if they were really stalking me and my little causes… if they were, it worked. I’m still an active member and I’m STILL participating in the, Yoplait Yogurt Save Lids to Save Lives, influencer program. This will be my 3 year organizing a team known as, Pink Ninjas.

During my first year I asked one of my private groups if they would like to join me. That first year, CafeMom, gave us $100 to spend on the project and another $100 to as a personal thanks. I had a ball informing my friends that they would earn PRIZES for sending me lids. I then emailed all the surrounding schools and asked if they wanted to participate. Out of all the schools I inquired, one responded. However, between my friends, my family members and that one school… we saved over 900 lids!

The next year my daughter entered Kindergarten… and that school was eyed like a vulture on the hunt. The poor principal had no idea who was following her daughter into the school system! However, they happily agreed to participate- and between my Pink Ninja team, my family members and the school, we raised OVER 1000 lids! That is over $100 in pink yogurt lids that goes directly to breast cancer research.

I’m not certain why I feel so compelled to eat the yogurt and save those shiny pink lids… I do not know of any family members that were directly affected by breast cancer. Skin cancer and prostate cancer yes… but not breast cancer. My family also contains countless other medical concerns that I could focus my attention towards as well… but something calls to me in regards to this cause. I’m even well aware of the fact that Yoplait’s profits increase during this time of year… all in their “support” of the cause. Still, they do donate 2 million dollars a year to the, Susan G. Komen Foundation… and yogurt is rather good for us. 

This year my compulsion has grown to the next step. A friend of mine has agreed to do a 5k walk for awareness coming in October… the school is again collecting lids and my Pink Ninja team is forming. Yesterday I sent out a mass email reminding my friends and family to start collecting and my Aunt informed me that she had already started… she placed a jar in her office to collect and there were already 3 lids, and I have 8 in mine. My little thing has really, really grown.