November and December are always humbling at the WCA. I’m overwhelmed by the acts of compassion from the community. Eighty families were sponsored by members of our community so they could enjoy a peaceful, joyous Christmas. Over 1,000 Giving Tree tags were taken by members of the community and our cupboards are re-stocked so that families checking into our Shelter throughout the New Year will have diapers, formula, and warm clothing. Other donations from our Wish List also poured in.
I had the pleasure of speaking with a lovely woman whose birthday is at the end of December. She asks her friends and family to give her cash in lieu of birthday and Christmas gifts so that she can shop for items on our Wish List. She does this because she and her mom could have used the services of an organization like the WCA when she was growing up.
The monetary gifts are heartwarming as well. From the $11.72 grade school children raised for us at a bake sale, to the $2,600 gift from a first time donor, to the multitude of donations of all sizes we’ve received from people in honor of family and friends who are survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault.
I was sharing some of these stories with one of our Case Managers. She told me how much these acts of compassion mean to our clients. Knowing that members of our community care about them and want to help them gives our clients a huge emotional lift. This is What Compassion Accomplishes.
Warm wishes for a healthy and happy 2017!
“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.“ Dalai Lama
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