A big thank you to LoriWho set this up and to Stacey for letting us be part of her show and spreading the message of THE BUMP EXPERIMENT. Hopefully parents will encourage their kids to bump it up! in the homes; schools; and communities which will carry on throughout their lives! Here's to the NEXT generation of BUMPERS!!!!!

The Make a Wish Foundation is the nation's largest wish-granting organization.Since 1980, the Make a Wish Foundation has given hope, strength, and joy to children withlifethreatening medical conditions. From their humble beginnings with one child's wish to be a police officer the Make a wish Foundation has evolved into an organization that grants a child's wish every 40 minutes! NOW THAT"S AMAZING!!!!!

Find out how YOU can get involved by visiting their site! www.MakeAWish.com

The Hunger Project is a global, nonprofit, strategic organization committed to the sustainable end of world hunger. The Hunger Project carries out its mission thru three essential activities; mobilizing village clusters at the grassroots level to build self-reliance, empowering women as KEY change agaents, and forging effective partnerships with local government. Their vision is that one day every person has enough of the right food to be healthy and productive EVERY DAY!

Check out The Hunger Project by clicking on www.thehungerproject.com .You can also find out about many orgainizations making a difference by visiting our BUMP LINKS page!

I met Michael this past week at a local strip mall while visiting the HOME DEPOT store. He approached me with a big shrug and sensed he was in need. I always take the time to talk to people and SEE if THEY will take the time to tell me their story and if I ca I WILL DO my best to help!

Michael works construction and gets work when able as of late. He has a wife and two childre, a 7month old and a 7 year old. he said he wasn't concerned about his hunger but his children needed food. we talked a bit and Michael helped me with some loading at Home Depot and putting it in my truck. Seems we both live in atlanta now but both grew up only 25 min from each other in small towns in eastern NC. We even attended rival high schools! GO JAGUARS:] It was just like that 6 degrees of separation. just like Maya Angelou says, " As Humans we are more ali8ke than different!"

I took michael about a mile down the road to the local Kroger and we bought some groceries! Boy was it HARD to get him to get anything that wasn't ABSOLUTELY necessary. I told him though unless we got a few EXTRA GOODIES I wasn't leaving the store. We got enough to get him thru the week ahead and hopefully enough diapers to last a bit. However; anyone with a baby or who has had a baby KNOWS diapers dont last very long!!!

I dropped Micheael off at his house and gave him my number! It had been a long work day and now after meeting Michael I was MOST THANKFUL for having the opportunity to have a long workday!

BUMP IT UP!

I was at the local strip mall here in Atlanta at the Home Depot when I was approached by a gentleman. I asked him if he needed some money as that usuually is the case in this situation. I always ask them their name and what their story is. About half the time they just take off and the other half  I get a glimpse into their lives and the struggles they face on a daily basis.

On this day I meet Michael. It turns out Michael is not homeless just short on work at a local construction business and he needs a little cash to feed his 7 month old and 7 year old. As we were talking he helped me with a few chores at the local home depotand as we walked about the store I learned we had more in common than we could possibly imagine!

Turns out we both were from NC and grew up only about 30nminutes from each other! We even attentented high schools from the same conference. And we shared many stories of working in a tobacco field growing up!

I anded up taking Michael to the local Kroger a mile away and bought some things for he and his family. It was tough just to get him to buy a few extras!!!!

We spent about an hour and a half together learning about each other and sharing the bump experiment with him and our mission statement. On this day because of BUMP's kindness many years ago... Michaeil got bumped because of BUMP! And so the experiment continues......

BUMP IT UP!!!

Remember to think about ALL the men and women in uniform who have given their lives and those now who defend our freedoms on a daily basis! BUMP THEM UP!

" True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be."

I just heard over the weekend the story of the homeless man who gave of his life in defense of a stranger who had been attacked. The man who was homeless was stabbed several times and laid in a pool of blood for a couple of hours until help was summoned for him, but it was too late. The same man who gave up his life for a stranger inturn found no strangers on time to save his life. I still believe there is far more good in this world than bad. I hope SOMEONE will step up to the plate and make the phonecall to 911 so that this story has two happy endings instead of one. God Bless thgis homeless man's soul. There truly ARE angels among us!

I just finished a quick out of town trip where I was able to share the message and the mission of the bump experiment with lots of people. THANK YOU ALL for your support! I always love to listen to people as THEY tell me THEIR story of how they have either helped someone or been the beneficiary of someone's kindness. AMAZING how some LITTLE or BIG something you do can make someone's day and in some cases change thier lives!

Check out Darynkagan.com and see ALL the great things people are doing on a daily basis. YES there is LOTS of GOOD news going on in the world. AND BE SURE to share your stories on the YOUR STORIES link on our home page. EVERYONE has a story! What's YOURS?

A BIG Thank you to Lisa Kagen on the OPRAH xm station 156 for giving us a chance to share our story and mission to people all over the nation!

BUMP IT UP! and stay in touch!

Often I am  asked, "what is the mission of THE BUMP EXPERIMENT?" Easy enough as our mission statement is the same note left to me 34 years ago which said; " If you are ever in the position to do something for someone be it of your time or money ..do it wothout expecting anything in return."

People are always asking how do I get involved and how can i make a difference? It's actually quite easy...just take the time to care!  Today I was at the gym very early and moving a little slowly these days due to a knee injury. As I was leaving the gym to start my workday a member was quite a bit ahead of me leaving as well with someone engaged in conversation as they headed off somewhere. I couldn't help but SMILE inside as I slowly approached the door only to find that this guy who was clearly on his way somewhere with someone TOOK an extra 10 seconds to wait for me and held the door open. In that instant I knew it was going to be a GREAT day All because someone took the time to go out of their way to hold open a door. This guy was BUMPING IT UP! and didn't even realize HE is what The Bump Experiment is all about!

I always tell people althoughI do realize there IS prejudice in this world MANY times it is just out of our comfort zones to help someone whether it be taking 10 seconds to hold open a door for someone; volunteering for something new to us; helping a homeless person; or giving to a cause when we don't think we have anything to give! Believe me every nonprofit organization I know would LOVE for a million people to just give ONE DOLLAR to their cause as opposed to hoping for one individual to give a million. I love the saying, "if a lot would do JUST a little then a little wouldn't have to do alot!"

So next time you have an extra 10 seconds to spare...OPEN a door for someone, let them in front of you when driving, say hello to someone or GOOD  MORNING before placing your order. Running short of time? I hear just a simple SMILE and a nod can still brighten someone's day!

BUMP IT UP!

Action Against Hunger / ACF International is a global humanitarian organization committed to ending world hunger. Recognized as a leader in the fight against malnutrition, ACF works to save the lives of malnourished children while providing communities with access to safe water and sustainable solutions to hunger. With 30 years of expertise in emergency situations of conflict, natural disaster, and chronic food insecurity, ACF runs life-saving programs in over 40 countries helping some 5 MILLION people EACH year. Help support this most worthwhile cause. Visit them @ www.actionagainsthunger.org for more information. Visit there site by clicking here or visiting our BUMP LINKS section for this and many other worthwhile causes!

As budgets are being cut on a daily basis funding for BOOKS disappears on a daily basis as well. READING is key to education and BOOKS are KEY to READING! Adopt a library provides resources to promote literacy in many areans. Adopt a libray encourages donations to libraries and schools and even prisons in the US and around the world. You can ALSO donate your used books as well. Knowledge is hope and books ARE our key to tomorrow's hopes and dreams! BUMP IT UP! See out link to Adopt a library.org under BUMP LINKS!

A BIG thank you to everyone for all the bday wishes today and for sharing all the cool things you did today in honor of my birthday!!!!! It really made for a VERY cool day though this day! I've been a little slow in blogging the past couple of weeks due to an unexpected injury, " as if we plan these things" and am adjusting to a brace , crutches and trying to get back into the groove. THE GREAT news is they can fix my knee and even better news I will be down from work for a month and will be devoting TONS of time on the bump experiment! so stay in touch as  lots will be going on!!!!

I was listening to the radio EARLY this am and heard Dr. Maya Angelou discussing the topic of charity. It was a WELL spent thirty minutes of my time and a greatway to start off the day. She was discussing charity in light of all the devastastion that has taken place in recent days in both Haiti and Chili due to the earthquakes leaving thousands homeless and in need of food and medical supplies.
 Many of us have often heard and may have even said ourselves..." i don't need someone else's charity!" When in fact I don't know anyone INCLUDING myself that has not needed charity at somepoint in their lives whether it be a shoulder to lean on; an ear to listen to; or some kind of help beit phsically, emtionally, or spiritually. Life unfortunately throws us curve balls sometimes. some are quite minor and others are truly devastating like the earhtquakes whose damage will take years to heal the wounds.

It is the chairty within us that helps the healing begin. Dr Angelou described charity this way. Think of charity as you have more of something than you need and want to share it with someone who is in need. that could be a kind word; a ride to work; an hour of your time to help someone short on time; a warm meal; or a helping hand financially when times are tough.

In this day and age and during these tough economic times NONE of us are immune to hardships. Were it not for CHARITY  where would  we be. Charity reminds us on many levels that regardless of what happens in our lives ther ARE people who will step up and help us get our feet back on the ground.

I truly believe there are far more people who BUMP IT UP! with their charitable acts than those who choose to ignore the hardships of others.... and THAT is what THE BUMP EXPERIMENT is all about!

" As humans... we are more ALIKE than different!"   Thank you from the wolrd's foremost poet. MA
BUMP IT UP!

Boy February FLEW BY and the FLU had me a good part of the last two weeks of it and I have been playing catch up ever since. Start checking in on a regular basis as I've got LOTS to share in the next couple of weeks.

One experience that has been a bump to me over the past few days is the gift of freindship. My high school class 0f 1977 recently lost a classmate. lots of Alumni showed up for Terry's funeral. It was definitely a time of sadness but also of celebration of his life. Since that time the class of 77 has been collecting names and emails of former classmates so that we can all we connect. I have talked with several over the past few days and am constantly reminded of how special our frienships were and still are. Hope to see many of them in June ata class reunion. Bump It Up1 and call an old friend!!!!

I was listening to xm radio talking about all the bad things happening in the world today and how we as a human race are full of conflict towards one another. The statement was then followed by a quote from Maya Angelou. She said" As humans ...we are more ALIKE than different."  BUMP IT UP!

I met Bernadette last Sunday while I was in the Kroger grocery store here in atlanta. I was at the Starbuck's kiosk in the store soon to make a new friend. While I don't drink coffee I spend more at starbucks than most folks i know. I buy $5 gift cars from them and give them out for GREAT customer service. it always shocks people when i give them a gift card and say THANKS for your great service! But back to Bernadette.... As I was waiting to get about 10 gift cards Bernadette approached the counter for what I learned was a ritual for her to walk from a nearby apt complex to this Starbucks to get a free sample of coffee. Seems she did this EVERYDAY and everyone knew her at the counter. she asked why I bought so many gift cards and i told her my story and about the bumpexperiment. She said I should write about it!...hm..... Weel Bernadette is a senior on a fixed income who is writing her sstory which is what it has been like being bi-polar thru out her life and ALL the obstacles she has had to overcome. she said she thought it was important  for people to know what its like for people like her on a daily basis. I agree! On this day Bernadette would not get a sample. I SURPRISED her with her very own LARGE coofee that went by a fancy name that Bernadette knew but had never tried! She thought she had won a million dollars!!! If only buying someone a cup of coffee could make everyone's day!!!! Tryi it folks! It's worth a try! Today I made a new friend and ONE MORE person who believes in the bump experiment. i think that's a GOOD day! BUMP IT UP! Nov. 2-8 2010.

I pulled up to the strip mall off east ponce here in atlanta where it seems I spend a lot of time because it has lots of what I need on a weekly basis...

I get approached by homeless people frequently here and always talk to them a little to find out their names and their stories....

AND THEN I MET CARI!!!!

It was pouring down rain here in atlanta and i was getting saoking wet when I heard a voice say " EXCUSE ME SIR.. It was a woman who asked if I could spare a little change. Before i coud even say anything a security guy approached us both to shoo her away from panhandling. i told the officer I was fine with her and for the next two hours Cari shared her world with me.

We went to whole foods first and I shopped and i told her to go to the hot bar and get her some food. We went to the check out line and it was busy so she said "let's  go to the self check out line." I said It intimidates me but she said "Let's go she could do it and she did. 

We walked to my truck soaking wet. Neither of us had umbrellas. She had a few clothes hid in the bushes soaking wet but said "Just leave'em"

So I asked Cari what her story was.... She was working at piccadiliy just a few months ago and got laid off after a year almost because of the economy. she lost her apt and her ability to take care of her three kids. Someone is watching her three kids for her and she talks to them when she can to assure them she is safe.. She has no safety net to help. Molested as a child she fled home after high school. She was getting by until she lost her job....

Then it seems she lost everything except her spirit.

We wnt to family dollar and bought her an umbrella and a pair of pants/ shirt and socks. That's all she said she needed.  I took her to a place where a "friend " lets her stay for $5 a nite where she can lock her door because all kinds of things are going on elsewhere in the house.  She stays here when she can. other times she sells herself for sex to get food/ housing ...whatever it takes to get thru the day. I get it... and do not judge!

I dropped her off at her " friends" drug infested street and she told me not to pull up too close or they would run to my car to sell me some crack. Sure enough I witnessed several cars do just that.

I gave her some money to get by on for a little and gave her my number. i told her to meet me next Saturday at whole foods and we'd go to my house and do a little work.  I gave her my number though she doesnt have a phone and said I hope to see you next sat at 9am. She gave me a hug and I hugged her back.


And to think when i left my house to head to whole foods  i thought..."What a yucky day!". Then i met Cari and realized the sun was shining brightly on me and my life and it was time to share the sunshine!


 So when you think youve had a rough day... Take a deep breathe and say to yourrself....
I Hope and pray CARI is ok!

BUMP IT UP!

PS Her kids names are Bridget, kimberly, and Darius..Thought you should know your mom is ok today! She loves you. I saw it in her eyes when she told me your names!

Everywhere I go in this great city I unfortunately see people who have falleb on hard times. Many have made their own lot and many have fallen upon hard times. Regardless these people often become invisible in our communities and our cities.

Often we come across a homelless person and turn the other way. it's not that we dont care it's just that it is out of our comfort zone, today i met TODD while going into the smoothie king when he saw me going in. He asked me if I had any cahnge and I told hime to give me a minute and I would be out. I asked him if he wanted a smoothie and he said NO. I REALLY want a hamburger.

When I got out there was TODD. we talked a few minutes just talking and I gave him $5. When I was younger and gave money I always wondered if it was used to buy food, but as I got older I realized it didin't matter what was done with the money. I put a good deed out there and that act of kindness was and should be unconditional.

As I pulled away and ran a quick errand i couldn't help but notice a familiar figure walking up the street and then he turned RIGHT! It was TODD. He was going to MacDonald's to get a hamburger. sometimes you just have to BELIEVE! BUMP IT UP! and stay safe TODD. Any you know the funny thing after I gave TODD the money he said THANKS followed by" And thanks for taking the time to talk to me.. WOW .. hereally got me thinking then!

How many people are out there and we don't even say HELLO!

BUMP IT UP!

A million times we'll need you,
 A million times we'll cry.
If love alone could have saved you, You never would have died.
 In life we loved you dearly,
In death we love you still.
In our hearts you hold a place, No one else will fill.
 It broke our hearts to lose you,
But you didn't go alone.
Part of us went with you, They day God called you home!

Thanks for being a BUMPER Rainelle! You are one sweet soul Myslf and all the others will miss!
BUMP IT UP!

Billy