Love, Hope, Charity!

Each year I participate in my company’s annual Thanksgiving food drive. I help collect food, purchase food to donate, and box/deliver the food to needy families in the area. It breaks my heart each year that we even need to do this. Why? Because in a country as rich as this, we have so much hardship and famine. We have so much money being wasted on bullshit items that the government spends millions of dollars on, but it won’t help a family feed itself. Billions of dollars is being wasted on this so-called war and we can’t take care of the veteran’s when they come back. It’s a shame that so many have to rely on the kindness of strangers to help feed and house them.

I participate in these drives because it feels good and because it means something to me to give to those less fortunate than me. I recall when I was an unemployed single parent and how I struggled to make ends meet. I was fortunate that I was educated and resourceful enough to do it; however, there are those who aren’t and need assistance. For the many trials I’ve triumphed through and those who helped me along the way, gives me additional reasons to want to help others. I could have very easily have been the woman unable to have a celebratory dinner, wear a gently worn coat, or have toys for her child at Christmas.

I’m more than thankful for being able to overcome the odds, to have had kind people in my life, and to be in a position where I can help someone else. I do not reserve my giving to just Thanksgiving or Christmas. I give as often as I can to whomever I can. When I stay at hotels, I save the soaps and such and donate them to the military so the troops can have additional supplies. Or I donate to women’s shelters for the woman who had to pack up and leave an abusive home. I give clothes and shoes to the Covenant House so those there can have. I’m willing to give up going out to lunch or dinner and give that money to a good cause.

Each day is cause for thanksgiving because we have so much to be thankful for. I think we all need to look deep within ourselves and consider what we are truly thankful for and make it last for more than a couple of months. Check out places in your respective areas and see if you can offer your hand to cook or serve the homeless; adopt a family and provide small services for them; donate whatever time or money you can spare for a child in need. Charity begins at home. What kind of house are you living in?