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Sparkle (1)
Saturday, October 23rd is a day to change your life. It is the 20th annual "Make a Difference Day," which is also the largest national day of community service. It is sponsored and supported by groups such as Newman's Own, USA Weekend, the Hands On Network and Citi (as in the bank people). It is all about creating a project to do good or helping with one that needs help -- and putting our energy where our hearts should be.
In researching this article I found this video of a family who decided to participate in this effort last year and prepared chicken and rice and a beverage for 50 homeless people. They drove to NYC and started handing the meal out to people on the street who were in need. They got inspired and followed that up a few months later with a few friends and 100 bags of sandwiches. They didn't need an organization. They just made food and delivered it. And they will continue. Here they are telling about what they did. Apparently they received an award which also went to charity.
I think many of us make the mistake of thinking that someone "out there" has to help. Why isn't the city helping? Why isn't the government helping? Why aren't the churches helping? Why don't businesses do more?
These may be valid questions. In fact, they are valid, and we need to keep asking them. But we should never forget one more BIG question -- what can I do? There are simple things I can do to help someone that cost me nothing and yet, I am not doing these things.
Shame on me.
I have a closet that has clothes in it that I am not using that can keep someone warm.
Shame on me.
I have canned goods that I could drop off at the food pantry, but they sit on my shelf, nourishing no one while people go hungry.
I went shopping today at the grocery store. Not once did I think about what can I get for the homeless shelter. I can (and should) routinely grab a few items for the shelter every time I grocery shop -- not just during a food drive -- but EVERY time I shop. How big a problem is it for me to get a few extra cans/boxes/containers of food? If I do this every time I shop -- get a few small somethings for my homeless brothers and sisters ... it won't take long to have it turn into a whole bag.
I'll never miss the money.
I am embarrassed by the absence of this from my routine.
Tomorrow I am going to sort through my closet -- at least a rough sort -- and take some things to the shelter along with some canned goods to the food pantry.
It won't take long. And once I build it into my routine, it will be no big deal to keep it going. I want to set aside at least a little every time I grocery shop, until I don't even have to remind myself anymore.
That's what I loved about the family in the video. They just did what they did as a matter of course.
Many events are being scheduled by organizations as well around the country. Use this link to see what is being done near you, or to register your event.
The NBA is also getting involved:
Are you planning something for this day? Please let us know how you plan to make a difference this weekend. Some of us may be driven by the imperatives of our faith, others by humanism, others by simple common sense. No one has a corner on doing good. And the world is not in short supply of opportunities to do good. In each of us is, I believe, the longing to give, to be of value, to help. Light a fire beneath that flicker and fan it to life if it needs encouragement.
It isn't too late -- someone out there is waiting for helping hands that look just like yours. They wait to hear a comforting voice that sounds just like yours. They need the strength and hope and wisdom and care that
