|
December 2008 |
|
Service Projects During the Holidays By Nikki Schmidt |
|
Ring. Ring. Ring.
There they were in their red aprons ringing the shiny silver bells all too commonly seen outside grocery and retail stores during the holidays. You know what I’m talking about. They are the Salvation Army Bell Ringers. I’ve often seen those bell ringers, looking more glum than not, well, granted it’s not all that fun standing out in the cold ringing a bell and having people (more often than not) avoid you because they don’t want to feel guilty enough to plunk a few bucks into your red pail. It’s also bad news for those who like to avoid the spotlight since ringing a bell inherently puts you at the center of attention.
Well, it may not be everyone’s favorite thing to do but, I do have to say, I once saw two bell ringers with amazingly warm smiles on their faces and who people had a really hard time walking by without plunking a couple bucks and even a ten or twenty here and there.
They were my sons. |
|
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world..” --Anne Frank |
|
Dressed in head to toe in every warm winter garment we could find, my two sons, then four and seven years old, donned on their red aprons and eagerly rang their bells to, as they put it, “get money to take care of people who needed it.”
One woman beamed after coming out of the store, “Oh, my goodness!”, she exclaimed as she excitedly fumbled in her purse, “I’m so proud of you two!” She then handed my youngest a ten dollar bill. He grinned from ear to ear and put it in the red pail. “Do you want a cookie?” asked my oldest. We all thought it would be fun to give “free” cookies to people when they donated to show our thanks and appreciation. She declined the cookie but the gentleman behind her that emptied his wallet eagerly took one saying, “Ooo, this is worth a jump in my blood sugar,” as he winked, grandfatherly, at my two sons. We weren’t allowed to count the money once it was in the pail but I had been watching and estimated that in two hours those two kids brought in over $200. I’m sure the cuteness factor helped.
I knew I wanted my children, even at a young age, to know service as second nature, something concrete that encouraged the betterment of society and increased their awareness of humanity’s interconnectedness. Well, it seems I’m not alone since my kid’s generation values volunteerism in the same percentages reminiscent of the Baby Boomer generation--the generation who took “making a difference” as their mantra.
This year we will again be bell ringing but we’ve also committed to holiday gift basket delivery and sorting holiday gifts for kids. If you are one of those individuals looking to give back your time or money or wanting your family to do the same, check out the resources I’ve come across, because as Anne Frank put it, you can improve the world now.
Watch this short video for inspiration on finding ways to make a difference or for a family meeting to open up the discussion about choosing a family service project this holiday season. http://www.stservicemovie.com
The Metro Volunteers website provides a database of organizations in need of volunteers all year long. However, click here to download their 2008 Holiday Guide, detailing metro-wide volunteer opportunities during the holiday season. http://www.metrovolunteers.org |
|
The National Charity League, Inc. fosters mother-daughter relationships in a philanthropic organization committed to local community service, leadership development and cultural experiences. Colorado Chapter contact: Marianne Imhoff 303-993-2659 & Xiaoling Su Chen 303-953-4065. www.nationalcharityleague.org
Loving Hugs, Inc. brings comfort and aid to children, individuals, and families throughout the world who have been affected by war, poverty, or natural disasters. To accomplish this Loving Hugs provides homemade, new and gently used cuddly stuffed animals to children around the world in need of a hug and helps provide needed training (i.e. sewing and woodworking classes) to poor village communities. Groups of any age can easily collect stuffed animals as as charity project. Contact Wendy & Rick Clark: 303-948-0552. www.lovinghugs.org
Inter-Faith Community Services is the largest emergency and continual support system in South Metro Denver for low-income families, children, seniors, and the homeless. Community members such as schools, churches, service clubs, Boy and Girl Scouts, businesses, individuals, and families donate all the food and clothing. Contact Maria Pearson 303-789-0501 ext. 226. www.ifcs.org
Project Give 360 empowers women, children and families in emerging communities to lead self-sufficient, enriched lives through educational and vocational programs. Domestic and international volunteer opportunities supporting these projects are offered to families and individuals wanting to make a difference while fostering awareness, compassion, and inspiration in those who serve. Contact LeAnn Hait 303-888-3137 leannhait@aol.com or Lesley Geraci 303-779-2535 lesleygeraci@msn.com |
