Giving back!!
- Thread starter giaebonyprincess
- Start date
True!
Even going through your old clothes and shoes that don't fit or just don't want to wear and donating them is great idea. Sometimes it hard to let of material stuff but it is just that.
When I was younger some friends and I would collect used coats and baseball caps gloves throughout the year and throw them in a friends garage, then at the end of october we through all we collected into a van and drove downtown east hastings and handed out all the coats etc....we usually had over 100 coats each time, as we all got married and move on this stopped...but I saw school group did that last year...made me feel good
I'm a big believer in random acts of kindness and try to practice this daily. Even the smallest gesture of goodwill can brighten someone's day and perhaps inspire them to give it forward.
A few years ago I was going through a really rough patch and I took my nephew to the park to try to clear my head and see joy in him. As I was sitting on the bench I started spontaneously crying. I didn't want him to notice so they silent tears that just wouldn't stop. An older couple were sitting on another bench watching whom I assumed was their grandson play with my nephew. A few minutes passed and the lady came over and sat with me, held my hand, and offered a tissue; all without any words said. She sat with me for at least five minutes in complete silence, just being. That meant so much to me and I'm even tearing up thinking about it now.
A few months ago I was on Granville street waiting for a taxi around 9pm. An elderly couple walked past me into a Money Mart. I had seen a generous client that day who tipped me $100. I waited outside watching them holding hands while seated for a bit and then I went in and sat next to them and started idle chit chat. They asked about my work and I told them I had just received a bonus that so they then asked why I was in a Money Mart. I gave the lady the $100 and told her husband to buy her some flowers or something nice. They were so astonished and hugged me. I again left with a tear in my eye.
I've routinely sat and talked with homeless or less fortunate people and have heard some horrific stories.... sometimes people just want to be heard. There was something on social media that inspired me to make kits to hand out with things like a bottle of water, protein snacks, tissues, and travel size toiletries etc. I made about 10 of them and included $5 in each. It can be tricky to approach some people with handouts... a lot don't want to feel like charity cases so I make a point of talking with them first to assess their situations.
This is a great thread, and I appreciate hearing everyone's stories. Keep the generosity and goodwill flowing!!
ositive:
A few years ago I was going through a really rough patch and I took my nephew to the park to try to clear my head and see joy in him. As I was sitting on the bench I started spontaneously crying. I didn't want him to notice so they silent tears that just wouldn't stop. An older couple were sitting on another bench watching whom I assumed was their grandson play with my nephew. A few minutes passed and the lady came over and sat with me, held my hand, and offered a tissue; all without any words said. She sat with me for at least five minutes in complete silence, just being. That meant so much to me and I'm even tearing up thinking about it now.
A few months ago I was on Granville street waiting for a taxi around 9pm. An elderly couple walked past me into a Money Mart. I had seen a generous client that day who tipped me $100. I waited outside watching them holding hands while seated for a bit and then I went in and sat next to them and started idle chit chat. They asked about my work and I told them I had just received a bonus that so they then asked why I was in a Money Mart. I gave the lady the $100 and told her husband to buy her some flowers or something nice. They were so astonished and hugged me. I again left with a tear in my eye.
I've routinely sat and talked with homeless or less fortunate people and have heard some horrific stories.... sometimes people just want to be heard. There was something on social media that inspired me to make kits to hand out with things like a bottle of water, protein snacks, tissues, and travel size toiletries etc. I made about 10 of them and included $5 in each. It can be tricky to approach some people with handouts... a lot don't want to feel like charity cases so I make a point of talking with them first to assess their situations.
This is a great thread, and I appreciate hearing everyone's stories. Keep the generosity and goodwill flowing!!
ositive:A while back, I stopped into a 7-11 for something. There was a very scruffy biker-looking dude who approached me and asked if I could spare some change. Said he hadn't eaten in a few days. Normally, I may have handed him some change and moved on. But there was something about this gentleman. There was a look of desperation in his eyes, and genuine fear.
I stopped and asked him what his story was.
The gentleman indicated he had made some terrible choices in life, and paid for those choices. He had just come out of jail a week ago. But in a city where he didn't know anyone. No family, no friends, no job, no money. As such, he hadn't eaten any food in a few days. He looked and sounded really desperate. Because of his physical appearance, people wouldn't come near him, or would go to great lengths to avoid him. There was a restaurant a few doors down, so I suggested we go over and grab a bite. I grabbed a coffee, he sat and looked at the menu, unsure of what to do. Asked me what he could order. I said, I don't know, whatever you want to eat. Grab a steak dinner with all the trimmings, if you want. Just no alcohol please.
We sat and chatted, and I tried to think of places that he could go for assistance. Churches, and the sort. Ended up parting ways. Really wonder if he made out ok in the long term.
My father in law came across a kid in the exact same situation. Kid from the Maritimes, out of jail, came by his work yard scrounging for food. My father in law took him home and made him lunch. Hired him as a clean up guy in his yard. Hired him to do landscaping at his home. Nurtured the kid for a year and raised him. Found him a place to stay. I think they stayed in touch for a few years. The kid would drop in at Christmas to see him and thank him.
I stopped and asked him what his story was.
The gentleman indicated he had made some terrible choices in life, and paid for those choices. He had just come out of jail a week ago. But in a city where he didn't know anyone. No family, no friends, no job, no money. As such, he hadn't eaten any food in a few days. He looked and sounded really desperate. Because of his physical appearance, people wouldn't come near him, or would go to great lengths to avoid him. There was a restaurant a few doors down, so I suggested we go over and grab a bite. I grabbed a coffee, he sat and looked at the menu, unsure of what to do. Asked me what he could order. I said, I don't know, whatever you want to eat. Grab a steak dinner with all the trimmings, if you want. Just no alcohol please.
We sat and chatted, and I tried to think of places that he could go for assistance. Churches, and the sort. Ended up parting ways. Really wonder if he made out ok in the long term.
My father in law came across a kid in the exact same situation. Kid from the Maritimes, out of jail, came by his work yard scrounging for food. My father in law took him home and made him lunch. Hired him as a clean up guy in his yard. Hired him to do landscaping at his home. Nurtured the kid for a year and raised him. Found him a place to stay. I think they stayed in touch for a few years. The kid would drop in at Christmas to see him and thank him.
That was sweet of her...sometimes we just need to let it out silently. The kit package is another awesome idea, dollarama is would be great for those items.I'm a big believer in random acts of kindness and try to practice this daily. Even the smallest gesture of goodwill can brighten someone's day and perhaps inspire them to give it forward.
A few years ago I was going through a really rough patch and I took my nephew to the park to try to clear my head and see joy in him. As I was sitting on the bench I started spontaneously crying. I didn't want him to notice so they silent tears that just wouldn't stop. An older couple were sitting on another bench watching whom I assumed was their grandson play with my nephew. A few minutes passed and the lady came over and sat with me, held my hand, and offered a tissue; all without any words said. She sat with me for at least five minutes in complete silence, just being. That meant so much to me and I'm even tearing up thinking about it now.
This is a great thread, and I appreciate hearing everyone's stories. Keep the generosity and goodwill flowing!!
its amazing reading these deeds and then you remember something else in your life, as a family we were driving to disneyland in I think 1989, we stopped in a little place in Oregon called Rice Hill, we always stopped here on our way to california as it was a good distance for day 1, it was raining and I walked from our room at the Ranch Motel across the street to the gas station to get a few sandwiches....there was a young man talking to the attendant and was told no he can't...I was curious so i listened in.....the young man ran out of money and gas and was trying to find a way to get gas.....I grabbed my sandwiches and went back to the room...I told my wife about him and she agreed, we had a $10 bill and a bunch of 50s, i took the $10 back across the street and I found the car parked aside the building....the windows were all fogged up so i knocked...when the window rolled down I saw a very young couple...hugging in blanket as it was cold.....the girl seemed scared .....I told them I over heard their problem and I gave them the $10 so they could put enough gas in to get to salem which was not to far away where they could possibly get some help and enough would be left to get a sandwich each....they were sooooo appreciative....blessing me all over the place obviously they were very religious....I often think about that young couple and how they made out but at least they got out of that truck stop and into a big city.....still feels good to this day
It's crazy that a guy would just be released from jail with no support available. It doesn't matter what he did to be jailed in the first place. If he gets put out on the street with no help and no hope, he's just going to end up back in jail. Even if the system doesn't care about the individual, it doesn't make sense in terms of the cost to society.
There is this old couple.....Mountain people with not very much, and living on the love they have for each other in a little log cabin in the woods.
Every Christmas I rummage through my freezer and load up a grocery bag of beef, and a few other things, some years I'll buy a bottle of cheap wine and leave it on their gate, with the food.
They asked me once if it was me all these years leaving food for them at the end of their driveway.....I shook my head and said I didn't know what they were talking about.
Part of the pleasure for me is the anonymity .....although I suppose I'm the only neighbor for 50 Klms........and the bag is loaded full of beef, that they know I have plenty of anyways....and I asked them why they thought is was me, and not someone else?
The old Cowboy smiled at me through the ages of timeless wisdom and said......." You know there's a lot of fresh snow laying on the ground in December......and last I knew of Santa doesn't leave a size 14 boot track....but I've noticed you do"
Stupid big clown feet.
Every Christmas I rummage through my freezer and load up a grocery bag of beef, and a few other things, some years I'll buy a bottle of cheap wine and leave it on their gate, with the food.
They asked me once if it was me all these years leaving food for them at the end of their driveway.....I shook my head and said I didn't know what they were talking about.
Part of the pleasure for me is the anonymity .....although I suppose I'm the only neighbor for 50 Klms........and the bag is loaded full of beef, that they know I have plenty of anyways....and I asked them why they thought is was me, and not someone else?
The old Cowboy smiled at me through the ages of timeless wisdom and said......." You know there's a lot of fresh snow laying on the ground in December......and last I knew of Santa doesn't leave a size 14 boot track....but I've noticed you do"
Stupid big clown feet.
Our firm has drives that supports the Convenant house? We are a secular group but we believe in keeping teens off of the streets.
Agreed that cash money is often the best way to help them, as they can allocate it according to their needs.
Agreed that cash money is often the best way to help them, as they can allocate it according to their needs.
We also have done a day where we volunteer (just to sort through their donations) and that was pretty rewarding..
Nothing quite like rolling up your sleeves and doing some manual work to humble yourself. Because while you're doing that it doesn't matter if you're a college drop out or a college professor, whether you make $15/hr or $250k an year.. You're just a pair of hands that is expressing love.
I also enjoy going to nursing homes and spending time with the elderly.. And just care for them because loads of them feel neglected :/...
Nothing quite like rolling up your sleeves and doing some manual work to humble yourself. Because while you're doing that it doesn't matter if you're a college drop out or a college professor, whether you make $15/hr or $250k an year.. You're just a pair of hands that is expressing love.
I also enjoy going to nursing homes and spending time with the elderly.. And just care for them because loads of them feel neglected :/...
It was really lovely of her. I don't know if there would have been anything that she could have said to have helped me feel better in that moment but her presence was very comforting.
A couple of years ago I mentioned in my December ad here on perb that a friend of mine was going through a time of hardship. She basically packed up as much as she could in a couple hours while her SO was out of the house and took off to get out of the abusive relationship. She had 3 young kids to support and was staying at a half-way house hiding out until a protective order could be established (I didn't say all this in my ad....). I offered $50 off my rate if the client were to bring toys for the kids as she was flat broke and couldn't buy her kids Christmas presents. The outcome was astounding! Clients brought toys, mailed cash donations, and one fellow whom I'd never had a session with dropped off a $200 Toys r Us gift card (I wonder if I ever will have a session with him)! Most didn't even take the $50 off of my fee. She was so grateful (and still doesn't know what I do for work, I told her my friends grouped together to make it happen). With the cash donations I bought her a well deserved spa day. I can't thank you guys enough for how you helped her!!
Awwwwwwwww.....thank you. I like being real, speaking at times what I think and if others may think the same or not and that's OK.
If you are looking for a way to give back, consider Big Brother or Sister.
I am a big brother to an autistic boy, and have been so for 4 years now. And I must honestly say that I don't know who is benefiting the most, him or me. Spending time in this way really puts some things into perspective about what truly matters. There are plenty of young people really needing adult contact with good role models.
And on a side note: Claire, I am not surprised to see your contribution to this thread. We've only met a few times, but it was pretty obvious: your heart is bigger than your body!
I am a big brother to an autistic boy, and have been so for 4 years now. And I must honestly say that I don't know who is benefiting the most, him or me. Spending time in this way really puts some things into perspective about what truly matters. There are plenty of young people really needing adult contact with good role models.
And on a side note: Claire, I am not surprised to see your contribution to this thread. We've only met a few times, but it was pretty obvious: your heart is bigger than your body!
