I was feeling a little blah on Saturday, until the mail came. The first envelope I opened was from my friend and neighbor, Natalie Karp, who just celebrated her 75th birthday. Natalie invited her family to help her celebrate her birthday and asked each one, in lieu of gifts, to make a donation to the Interfaith Nutrition Network (INN). Along with a note of explanation from Natalie, there were eight checks totaling $375. "What a wonderful way to celebrate a birthday," I thought.

The second envelope I opened was from my friend Marlo, who lives in Port Washington. She explained that her daughter, Sydney and her daughter's friend, Ilana, had held a bake sale and were donating all of the proceeds to the INN. In the envelope was a check for $50. I was really impressed with Sydney's and Ilana's enterprise and thoughtfulness.

Later that afternoon, my friend Mark rang our doorbell. He had a huge platter of sandwiches in his hands. Mark explained that he had just opened a new office in Manhasset and that the sandwiches were left over from their office party celebration. Mark knows I bring food and clothes to the INN several times a week.

Needless to say, after all this, I wasn't feeling blah anymore. I was feeling really good about the kindness of my friends and neighbors. So far this year, with a lot of help from my friends, we've raised over $15,000 to buy food for the INN soup kitchen in Hempstead --- that translates into nearly 6,000 meals for hungry Long Islanders.

If you would like to help families in need, please send your donation, large or small, to the Interfaith Nutrition Network c/o David Golbert, 7 Lee Court West, Great Neck, NY 11024. To donate food or clothing or to find out about volunteering, please call 917-418-2451 or email: davegolbert@yahoo.com

Every act of kindness helps make the world a better place.