A Reason For Giving

My little church group of forty plus ladies have been an inspiration to me over the years. Each have in their own way, done some amazing things for others from offering meals to our local food pantry, blankets & coats for the homeless and / or money that somehow found its way into someone's pocket. These are only a few of the things that remind me of the importance of giving of oneself.

As a child I can recall my family taking in someone that had no place to go, of moments when my father would pay for someone's meal that otherwise could not afford it or shopping for Christmas toys for a family in need, even when we ourselves were not that much off. This is how I was brought up and how I look forward in raising my grandson to be.

Our little group consisted of seniors who have no one else but our fellowship. We would meet once a month to share our faith, our stories and partake in a family style meal. On occasion we would get the opportunity to visit a few religious sites and provide a means for everyone to get out and about. Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have been unable to come together for many of the obvious reasons. Unfortunately our ladies have found themselves isolated and too afraid to leave their homes. Who knew a simple bingo game or a raffle raising funds for a worthy cause would be so sorely missed.

During these recent months, my family has been working extra hard in doing all we can in keeping their spirits up. Reaching out to them through monthly letters, our annual Christmas cards, we have also been preparing holiday meals with all the fixings. You can not imagine how much that little effort effects someone's life as we soon found out.

Our first round was during Easter, where we were able to prepare fifteen meals that we distributed amongst our members. Much to our surprise, the tears expressed in appreciation from someone that did not know what they were going to do for a meal because they had not left their home in a month. It came as to no surprise to us as it must have to everyone else when many businesses began to close their doors including our places of worship. It left so many scrabbling to figure out how to get their basic needs met and too few with resources to survive.

Once summer arrived, businesses and places of worship began to reopen their doors but we were still not allowed to come together. At least not in the numbers that we were use to. Months would pass and the urgency to see another person's face left many to find other alternatives. Some of our members found a way to picnic in a large spacious backyard and host a cookout at safe distancing of course. It provided some comfort, a small reprieve from the chaos going on around us that would not last. Fall was close approaching and the numbers started to climb once more.

Who would have known that this pandemic would have lasted this long. As you may have guessed it, our second round was during Thanksgiving. These wonderful ladies, who without thinking once for themselves had provided additional names and addresses of those that could also benefit from our efforts. What we later found out was that there were neighbors of theirs that were in the same predicament. A few of our ladies even wanted to offer what little they had in provisions to help our cause. Ask me again why I am so inspired by them.

This momentum will be continuing as we begin our third round of holiday meals this Christmas which we will be including a stocking of goodies. Even though we can not be with our families this holiday season, we can surely share a little bit of cheer that many are so desperately in need of right now.

To top this year off, a hundred dollars has found its way to a family which has left a nine year old, a seven year old and an infant without their mother within weeks of Christmas due to Covid.

I do not know what more of a reason for giving than this.