“We need more kindness, more
compassion, more joy, more laughter. I definitely want to contribute to that.”
- Ellen DeGeneres This perfectly describes how I believe one should think
during this time of year. I believe the
holiday season is the most important time to give back. When I think about the
holiday season, family, home cooked meals, and laughter is what comes to mind.
Many people do not have family to be grateful for, or food that they can look
forward to. We take so much for granted, like having a bed to sleep in, or
clothes to wear. I believe it is important to be grateful for what we are given
and give back to the people who do not have as much to be thankful for. This is
why I love participating in the service project of the veterans gift drive. The
people who receive these gifts have fought for us and risked their lives to
support our country. Veterans are the perfect example of who deserve to have a
towel to use or slippers to put on their feet. This program nothing but a gift
for them and I believe they know how lucky they are to have people to look out
for them, just like they did for us.
One of my core values is compassion.
Compassion is showing love, warmth, and sympathy. These gift drives are for the
people who may not receive the love we receive or the warmth of family and
friends gathered during the season. I have grown up with one of the most
compassionate person I know, my mom. My mom’s friend is someone who works with
the foundation, Toys for Tots. Since I was a little girl, every year, my mom
would ask me to pick out three toys that I thought another kid would love. The
first year we started giving back through this foundation she had to explain to
me why we were doing this. Being a kid you want every toy in the toy store, so
when she asked me to pick toys for someone else, I was a little confused. She
explained to me that not everyone had the same holiday traditions we had. She
explained how some children don't have a mother or a father, or dolls to play
with. This broke my 6 year old heart and ever since then, I have always looked
forward to giving back during Christmas time. As I got older I started ot to
think about careers that would allow me to give back which is
why I am looking to be a doctor. I want to help people and
make them feel happy when they do not believe they can. When I heard about
giving back to the veterans, I knew that is what I wanted to do for my service
project.
When I think about the holiday gift
drive, I feel warm inside and feel happy. Being happy during this time of year
is not always. Some parents struggle to buy their kids toys as a gift and this
is never easy. All parents want to do is make their kids happy. Making people
happy is what some people see as the greatest gift. Many people may think that
in order to give back they must spend a lot of money or time collecting the
objects. This is completely false. People who are in need are not picky, they
do not care about the price tag, or the quality. They are just grateful to be
receiving anything at all. For example, one day I was driving and a man on the
side of the road was holding a sign that said he was hungry. I did not go buy
him a sandwich but I had half of a sub from lunch. When I offered it to him, he
did not ask what was on the sandwich or where it was from, he was just grateful
to be getting anything. This proves that people in need will take what they can
get and that is why I love organizations like the holiday gift drive.
Giving back had always made me feel like I am
living life right. I am so grateful that I am able to help others and give
back. We focus on finding the perfect gifts for those we love, but sometimes
people need to focus on those who may not get gifts from loved ones. Giving
back is one of the best feelings and I
am so happy to participate. I believe this is the perfect way to show love to
all and this organization is just one way to give back.
Participating
in giving back has always made me want to start my own charity organization,
and one day I hope I do. I am so grateful that I am apart of the joy that shows
up on those faces of those who expect nothing. This is such a great holiday
tradition and believe that not only does it help others but also yourself.
