Happy Helping

A few days ago, at work, on a seemingly average day, an amazing thing happened right in front of me. To start, I’ll inform you that when children in orphanages reach the age of 18, they are no longer provided for and are released from government care. These children, and yes, they are children, are thrown out into the world damaged, unprepared and with little hope for a happy or successful future. Their Christmas’ have already been spent without family and now they would go without presents as well if it were not for a wonderful program, CHAS, which my work sponsors annually.

I work at a day care in Grand Terrace as the receptionist and directly across from my desk is a tree. Hanging from this tree are dozens of tags containing the names of a few of these young men and women as well as what they would like for Christmas. Many of the tags ask for Dora the Explorer dolls, diapers, and bottles as the recipients have become teenage mothers and fathers. They do not ask for themselves, but for their little ones. It breaks your heart to read these tags as some ask for clothes, shoes, and gift certificates for food. And even in these tough times, the parents at our day care choose a tag and do what they can to help the life of a child who has seen his or her fair share of tough times.

But the moment that most stuck out to me involved a father who brought in his two kids to each pick a tag from the tree. The father told me that they had bought only one Christmas gift for the entire family to share and, with the money they saved, they were going to give to those less fortunate. He told me that Christmas is about giving, not receiving, and he wants his children to understand that important fact. He knows he is blessed and his children want for nothing and he feels that if they understand that not every child in the world has that luxury, they will grow up to be generous, loving people who live simply and give freely.

And while he is telling me all this his children, his young children, are not complaining but deciding which tag to choose, which child they want to buy a Christmas present for, whose holiday they want to make brighter. They were happy to give and they were content, knowing their dad will take care of them and they don’t have to worry about a thing.

Many in this country have lost touch of the importance of social responsibility. And it’s not necessarily because we don’t want to help those around us but we simply don’t know how. My church’s Thanksgiving food-drive is all booked up. They literally have too much food, too much money, and too many volunteers. That’s a wonderful thing but what it shows me is that we tend to give during a certain time of year and we lack a balance. We are all aware that there will be a Thanksgiving food-drive and that the local grocery stores collect toys for children during Christmas so we all give like crazy because, finally, we have an opportunity to help. But what about the rest of the time? We need to be more proactive about how we help and look for ways to give and to volunteer throughout the year.

There are endless websites that show us how we can help. Here’s a sampling:
· http://www.freethechildren.com/
· http://www.handsoninlandempire.org/
· http://www.charityguide.org/

Many of these websites are geared toward getting children involved in charitable work. Showing the next generation how to help and how important it is to give to those who too often go without. Opening our eyes to a need and realizing that we are capable of providing a much needed service within our community and beyond will benefit not only those we help but ourselves as well. When we see that we can make a difference, our souls grow and we are better than we were before. Soon, lending a helping hand will be like second nature. Happy helping.

-Age