Sundays In My City - Something Different

I had this post all planned where I would show you some local fruits - on the tree and on the plate - and give you a little taste of Trinidad.

Sitting down to get it done though, my heart just wasn't in it. My head and heart are somewhere else right now. Every year at this time, I collect donations from co-workers and friends and neighbours. It's for a very worthy cause. The less fortunate in our community, with a special focus on children.

It started very simply - a friend was collecting non-monetary gifts to donate to the church to help the needy. She wasn't too happy with the "needy" who turned up (dressed better than she was, I might add).

I had this desire, as did others, to give something back, but what? I wanted to ensure that it reached the right target, not people who were taking advantage of the system, but those who truly had a need and were forgotten.

We talked about it, and the next thing I knew she told me she had been meeting with a State social worker who told her about families who really could do with the help. Families for whom State help  A terminally-ill single mother of a teenager and young child. A family with 8 children who lived in a one-room house in the most rural of places, where sometimes the children just can't get to school. People who live where an ambulance can't even get to you in time when you unexpectedly go into labour. A family living in a structure of shored-up galvanized iron sheets, which was literally like living in an oven when the sun is overhead.

She started coordinating donations and deliveries close to Christmas. And she's been doing it for 3 years now. I am so proud of her. And I am so saddened that we turn a blind eye to people living on the fringe of society like this. When we turn a blind eye to children like this, what do we expect of them as they become adults?

We try to brighten the holidays for these children. Through kind donations she single-handedly purchases tons of gifts for them, and the food hampers she puts together always include a few special luxuries other than the regular staples. I always think, "But for the Grace of God, there go I..."

Sadly, I am sure that in your community there are families who could use your help as well. If you are able to, please help in whatever small way you can. Social support systems are different from country to country, and many of you will be able to easily connect with those who directly work with the needy.

For those who need suggestions, perhaps you could start with a nearby church.
Volunteer for a soup-kitchen day, giving of your time or donations.
Give the gift of Water to families in developing countries who lose loved ones every day to diseases communicated through contaminated water (thanks Stephanie for sharing this).

These are not beautiful pictures. But they are real. My sincere hope is that they touch your heart and move you to take some small action to help another family less fortunate than yours.

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