Sometimes a story says so much more than I can possibly say. From one of our dedicated donors:
It was a chilly Tuesday night, and we were between stops when the driver caught a glimpse of an older man lying on a park bench. She pulled over and the man struggled to get up, never letting go of the tattered blanket that he was tangled in.
The second outreach worker jumped out, and I followed as we went to the back of the van to fill a bag with a nice hot meal and some basic essentials – underwear, a heavy sweatshirt, hand warmers, and a sleeping bag.
When we approached him on the bench, the man had tears in his eyes. He said he hadn’t eaten in 24 hours, and with the cold night ahead, he was gripped with fear that he really might not make it to morning. He told us that he was about to give up hope when he saw the van come around the corner and then he “knew that he would be okay” – he said we were his guardian angels.
Meeting this man made me realize something I never have before. I am nobody’s idea of a millionaire, and my annual gift is what I can afford, but until that moment, I honestly never realized what a difference I was making. My gift, however modest, really helps people – and wow, does that feel good!
When you give a donation, it can be difficult to envision its impact. What will my donation be used for? Will it truly help someone? Does it actually make a difference?
This is the beauty of Ve’ahavta. Each of us has a role to play and every single gift – from the smallest to the largest – helps a real person struggling to survive in our city – and no, you don’t have to be a millionaire to make a difference, you just have to care and do your part.
I once heard someone say that you should give until it hurts. I believe we should give until it feels good. Damn good.
Cari Kozierok,
Executive Director, Ve’ahavta
Your support, no matter the size, makes a tangible difference. Please consider donating today – every dollar matters and every act of kindness counts.
