A modern woman is in touch with her own needs– and the needs of others. That said, it’s easy to give back when time and money are plentiful. We wonder: when cash is tight, when we feel so overburdened ourselves, how can we find the energy/time/resources to help others? With this question in mind, every weekend we bring you examples of women who find creative, meaningful ways to give. Click ‘comments’ above and tell us what you do! You might be featured here as an inspiration next Saturday.
Today’s Queen B of Giving Back is Veronica, who writes about bringing art (and her whole family) to a children’s shelter:
I volunteer at a children’s shelter teaching art on the weekends. I bring my two girls (ages 6 and 10) and now my husband comes too. we go every other Saturday. the kids range in age from 12-18. some are working to go back to their biological home while others are up for adoption. however we all know how hard it is for a teenager to be adopted. the shelter is also a SAFE PLACE for runaways and sometimes the kids that come in are runaways from other states. this shelter works REALLY hard at reuniting the children with their families as long as it is safe for the children. the staff at this shelter are really the parents of these children, as well as the mentors that volunteer their time every week. we love going and some of the children have been there since I started teaching. some of the things we have done include – soap, candles, frames, lots of painting, paper mache, shaving cream art, origami, Xmas crafts, paper making….i usually ask the kids what they want and try to accommodate them. as a family we have also cooked meals with the children, played board games and just hung out. my children love going to the shelter as much as my DH and I do. we would strongly encourage families to volunteer together if possible…the benefits are priceless.
How do YOU give back?
Hi,
I don’t have a lot of extra cash or time for that matter but I do always make as much time as possible and help put at local shelter and do whatever the need help with at the time. I also help with Habitat for Humanity and a program called Best Buddies. I try to give as much time as I can.
Giving of ourselves is something that we should all do, especially in times that are so hard for us all. We have all been blessed with different gifts, whether we believe it or not.
I have two girls in college and one who has blessed me with two wonderful grandchildren, so I don’t have a lot of extra money to give. For that reason, I give of myself when I can.
I have friends who have children with special needs. They find it very difficult to be around others who don’t understand those needs, so therefore, they sometimes become lonely for adult company. Whether it is watching their children for a while so that they can have some free time, or even having lunch or coffee with them and the kids, it is helpful to them, more than we can imagine. At the same time, it is something that I love to do, so I get equally blessed, if not more so. I read to the children or just carry on a conversation with them, or even just watch them play. Children are so easy to talk to and they don’t judge, especially if you can try and relate to them.
I know that not everyone has this particular gift, but we all have a gift that we can share. God has blessed us with more than we realize. Use your special gift to bless others, and believe me, you will be blessed!
Accountants tend to be pricey. I try my hardest to keep my prices to a minimum. In addition to tax preparation, I also do a plethora of other things, including immigration assistance.
During tax season, I have three low-income senior housing residences that I visit, and I do the tax returns for any of the residents there for free. I also prepare taxes for anyone in residence at our local homeless shelter, regardless of the time of year.
With regards to immigration, there is a petition that can be processed for the battered spouse of a US Citizen, called a VAWA petition. (Violence Against Women Act) Having been a battered spouse, I know the heartache, the frustration and the living in fear that these women go thru. I can’t imagine adding fear of deportation and losing your children on top of that. In these cases, I process their applications for about 25% of the normal rate, so that they will be able to stand up in court and fight for their rights – without fear of ICE showing up.
I own my own Photography Studio, and I am doing Free Easter Portraits for the Children at our Local Woman’s Shelter. Twice a Yr my Children and I go thru their Clothes and Toys and Donate them to the Woman’s Shelter, and I donate food, towels, just whatever is requested for our Local Rescue Mission on a weekly basis.
Sounds a lot like where I work – Seton Youth Shelters, in Virginia Beach, is a safe haven for runaway and homeless youth, too. We’ve been “Changing Lives, Building Futures” for 25 years now, thanks to the generous support of our community!
Thank you, Veronica, for making a difference in the lives of these young people.
I read a lot and so do most of my friends. We frequent library sales and garage sales and buy tons of books. When we are done with them, I collect bags of them from my friends and take them to local senior centers. They love when I show up with them. Never throw away books. There is always someone who are happy for something new to read.