Well, it's not really a day, just an hour, but I am excited about it anyway. A couple of years ago my school decided to turn our saints's day into a service opportunity. As the community service coordinator, this means that I get to find projects for all of the children grades N-8 (about 350 kids?) to do. It is actually quite fun and inspiring to have this much say in what/how we do to teach children about community. Projects included having nursery students (ie my son) work with 4th grade ones to make a wreath for the local soup kitchen (nursery students will deliver these next week before our annual food chain so they can see where all of the food goes), 7th graders singing at the local nursing home, first graders baking brownies and making cards for the local firehouse (to be delivered tomorrow), 8th graders peeling vegetables at the church for the soup kitchen, second graders making vinegar with rosemary from our greenhouse to sell at the PA holiday fair...you get the idea. In any event, I was lucky enough to be imbibed with the helping spirit as a child and I am grateful to try to inculcate this vibe, one kid at a time, at my school. Tomorrow the 4th graders will go clean Riverside Park for the second time. I will not be there (language conference in Boston) but I know it will be fun! As Thanksgiving approaches, along with all the other holiday fanfare, I like Citibank's motto (what is wrong with me quoting Shitty Bank?)- This year, let's but giving before thanks. I encourage you to find a meaningful way to do something, no matter how small or how many times a month (even 30 min per month) to help out somewhere.
way to go hijita.
ReplyDeletethis makes me very proud even though I'm afraid that it was not me who imbibed you.
I'm feeling the same way.
I'm in charge of translating into Spanish the MBSH's PTSA Electronic Bulletin which is weekly and takes me between 2 and 3 hours per week.
Next Monday I will be going with some of the rubias, to prepare food for Thanksgiving.
I became part, in Helena's synagogue of a group that once a year ( on MItzvah Day, Day of Action) created about 50 teams of around 10/15 persons each to go out to do some good.
I'll be the captain of a group that will go to a shelter to cook and serve lunch to 200/250 people on January 23rd 2011. In the meantime I will have to solicit from Publix and or Cotsco some help with the food.
My idea is that if we can pull it, we'll try to do it not once a year but once a month.
It is gratifying.
I would like you to see a documentary done by Leon Gieco called Proyecto Alas. Very very inspirational.
BTW I met Leon Gieco a musician that I greatly admire for his history of pleading with the poor and needy, last Sunday ( he's married to a friend of mine that I have not seen in over 45 years and only lately I knew they were married) and was introduced to him by a common friend. To my surprise he came to me very warmly,hugged me and said:" No sabes cuantos discos te compre", I responded: "But I do not know you from there" and he said; " At the time I was not famous !!"