Gifts of Love
Gifts of Love stands as a beacon of support for individuals and families navigating challenging circumstances characterized by short-term crises. These challenges include unemployment, reduced working hours, illness, divorce, bereavement, domestic abuse, and unexpected financial strains. The organization recognizes the resilience of those it serves, acknowledging their industriousness amid financial constraints.
We've been volunteering at Gifts of Love since our family moved to Avon; we find profound purpose in contributing my time to Gifts of Love due to the organization's substantial impact on our community.
Samuel's Thoughts on Charity and Charitable Works
One aspect of charities that stood out to me the most is their use of personal discretion. When I worked at my local charity/food kitchen, one of the veteran volunteers emphasized the importance of thinking with my heart rather than my mind. What she meant was that rules and regulations, such as limiting a family of four to a specific number of cans of food, should not outweigh our ability to be humane. For instance, she shared that whenever she encounters a particularly struggling family, she disregards the limit and allows them to take enough food.
When dealing with real, living human beings with their individual stories, it is crucial not to reduce them to mere numbers on a spreadsheet. Empathy and the ability to sympathize with one another are fundamental aspects of all charity work. Another observation I made was the heightened tension among everyone. Whether expressed through getting lectured when a volunteer discovered my misorganized cans of black beans or the fast-paced atmosphere in general, it felt like everything I did had to be perfect, or the entire system would collapse. In hindsight, this thick tension made sense. After all, no one knew when the next supply of canned goods would arrive, or if everyone in need of food and shelter would receive it. The worst fear was having to turn someone in need away.
Furthermore, imagine having to witness the results of the worst of humanity every single day. Picture hearing stories of arson victims while looking at the scars on their faces or holding a mother while she wails about her son who died in the crossfire of a drive-by shooting. Working with people in need is one of the toughest jobs not only due to physical stress, but the commendable emotional capacity all volunteers possess.