Every now and then, I go through my colossal coupon organizer and pull all of the coupons for dog and cat food. I take those coupons and I shop for as much pet food as I can get using a set amount of money. What little time and energy I put into this project is well worth it when I can deliver a lot of food for a little money to the animal shelter.

This is part of something I call "frugal giving" on my website, www.onefabulousmama.com. Frugal giving means stretching your giving by using coupons, deals, and frugal living. My one income family couldn't possibly share the amount of food, sundries, and toiletries with charities, friends, and neighbors that we do without using strategies for frugal living and giving.

I was getting ready for one of these animal shelter trips when my Teenager and middle-Little presented me with close to $30 of their own money. They have been earning and saving their money for activities and items important to them. The Teenager has been saving for concert tickets and a spring trip while the middle-Little has been saving for a new video game. They just felt compelled to give that money to me. The act of giving became greater than what they wanted for themselves. Isn't that just beautiful, friends? I had to honor that gesture by doing my best to stretch their money. We were able to get close to $150 worth of food and treats for that $30! They were so, so happy.

This generosity got me to thinking about all of the bake sales, lemonade stands and car washes my kids have done over the years. They've earned money to buy books, pay for trips, build new schools and purchase new band uniforms. They've worked at book banks, learning centers and animal shelters. They've helped pay for band shoes for kids who can't afford them on their own and made meals for neighbors who have lost their jobs. My kids are in a constant state of doing for others.

Our lives are so filled with opportunities to give to people we don't know, but are invested in by virtue of our universal connection. These kids just get it; you know what I mean, friends? They just understand that you have to help one another as matter of being. Just because that is what makes us the best version of ourselves we can be on this journey. When I see them give without prompting or without want of recognition, I am overwhelmed by this feeling of goodness.

What we can do to foster a culture of giving in our communities. What makes my kids give in this way? My husband pointed out it's just part of who we are as a family; it's part of the dynamic of our circle of friends. And that's true. We are a bunch of do-gooders at heart. We like to leave things better than we find them. How do we encourage this dynamic everywhere, friends?

I think if our children see us give of ourselves, they will follow suit. If we, the grown-ups, place value on kindness, they will as well. I stand in awe of my children, friends. I really do. My husband and I could give ourselves a pat on the back and say our kids are good people because we raise them to be this way, but I know part of it is just plain old luck. All of our kids are faced with a society that places importance on the trivial, the superficial, and the mundane. We can lead by example all we want, but it's difficult to combat an entire culture of soul numbing consumerism and idiocy with thoughtful parenting. I mean, we'll keep on fighting the good fight, but it's tough. Isn't it, friends?

I guess what we need to do is just keep being the Hallmans. Keep sharing our light and our love. Perhaps the light from the Hallmans can combine with the light from your family. Perhaps our light will catch the attention of another family and another and another until our community is awash in a brilliant shine of love and kindness. Maybe that is how we motivate positive change, friends.

Getting thirty bucks from my kids so I can buy dog food is a small step in a long journey, but imagine that kind of loving kindness everywhere and every day. Pretty powerful, isn't it? We'll get there, friends. One coupon, one kid, one kind deed, one penny, one teeny tiny step at a time.

Beth McAfee-Hallman lives in Covington and can be e-mailed at mamabee@onefabulousmama.com.