This week our Make a Difference Monday takes a more serious tone.  Across the city, requests for help from aid agencies are skyrocketing.  The news may say that the recession has ended--but the number of people hurting financially in the city of Cincinnati is on the rise.  The Salvation Army is reporting a 40% increase in requests for help in 2010--with a large increase expected as we approach the holidays. This is why I'm proud to bring back From Our Pantry to Yours--a food and donation drive we began last year that to date has brought in more than $15,000 in donations to help families in need!  Our readers have been extremely generous--taking food from their own stockpiles to give to those who have little to nothing to eat.  To see some of the past generosity, you need to see our first food drive last November, and our $1K Challenge last spring.  Last fall, you--our fantastic, generous readers--came together en masse to blow away the people at the Brighton Center.  In less than 48 hours the Brighton Center went from having one box of cereal, to this:   Let's do that again!!  I don't think I've ever been more excited in my whole life.  I wanted to kiss every single one of you who came by!  Many of you got big hugs from me.  But even more, there were dozens of people who were being helped by the Brighton Center on hand to witness the event, and every single one of them was absolutely floored that people would care that much about helping strangers.  Let me tell you, the look on those teenagers faces from the foster care program?  Absolutely priceless.  You made a HUGE impact on how they saw the world that day. So let's do it again!  This time we are setting out to help the Salvation Army.  They have seen a 40% rise in need, serving more than 26,000 people this past year.  The social workers there tell me that many of the rise are from those who are unemployed for the first time in their lives.  The Salvation Army runs so many programs for: those who are in danger of losing their housing; for women and children who are homeless; for those who need food; for those who need clothing; for those in need of help with heat or utilities bills; and for so much more! Below is a list of things that are free this week at Meijer and Kroger.  Please, pick up as many of these items as you can, then rummage through your pantry and add to it the things that you can donate.  Then come out and see us this weekend--Friday, Saturday and Sunday--at the Tri-County mall!  We're partnering with B105, Q102, Rewind 94.9 and 97.3 The World Wide Wolf to bring together as much help as we possibly can!  DJ's and workers from all four radio stations will be out there during the weekend to collect donations.  I'll be out there too most of the weekend.  Come bring food and I'll answer any coupon questions you have!  While you're there, sign our Wall of Thanks--telling people what you are thankful for this year.  Rewind 94.9 will be broadcasting live from Tri-County mall all weekend! If you're a business who would like to make a donation, contact me at lmkia@cincysavers.com--I'll make it worth your while! Oh, and Jay Kruz from Rewind says if you come out to the mall but can't carry all the food you bring?  Let him know.  He'll come carry it in for you.  ;)