The Impact of Giving Back
I’d like to ask you to think with me on the first time you remember encountering a person experiencing homelessness. Do you remember how old you were? Where was it? How did it make you feel? How did you react or how did others you were with react?
Growing up my hometown in Iowa was a small town of around 7000 people with 1 homeless man. I don’t necessarily remember the first time I saw him. Stewart was an older man that rode his bike around town in all seasons of the year. He had a three wheel bike with a basket on the front and often his jacket was open and flapping in the wind as he peddled from place to place. His face was sepia and worn with deep crevices from the years of sun and elements.
One day when I was pretty young, my dad and I were in line at the drive through at Hardees. We saw Stewart coming across the parking lot towards the restaurant. As we waited our turn we saw him walk up to the drive through window, disrupting cars and the line’s order. After a few minutes he walked away, empty handed. Once we were up for our turn and pulled up to the window my dad asked the young man behind the window what happened. He replied to my dad that he was begging for food. My dad took $20 out of his pocket, handed it through the window, and said, when he comes back, buy him some food. I was shocked. This was the first time I had witnessed someone giving of themselves and caring for someone they knew nothing about. That moment will live with me forever and was monumental in making me who I am today.
My dad passed away a little over a year ago, and now that he’s gone I think about that moment even more. My dad was not able to give of himself in all ways–I never saw him volunteer, I never saw him advocating for any marginalized groups, but he gave in ways he could that felt right for him, which was typically monetarily. After my dad passed and I went through his mail I found SO many letters and receipts of organizations he was giving to, from the Burro society to young kiddos in Africa. He was never able to give much, $20 a year or so, but he gave throughout his whole life.
I implore you to think on giving back to our community. "Giving back" looks different for each of us, but each of us can give back. Maybe volunteering isn’t in your comfort zone and you’d prefer to support a non profit financially. Maybe you want to give of your time and talents and volunteer with clients served by a non profit or join a board of directors. Maybe you enjoy social media and sharing with others and can help promote the needs and activities of those doing great work in our community.
As I grew up my area of giving lies within doing. In college I went on a habitat for humanity trip and helped build adobe houses. I volunteered at a local children’s home. I felt the most satisfaction and felt like I was making the most difference through doing. As an adult I joined a board, I continued to volunteer, and I made sure my children volunteered, too. Showing our youth that giving back is so important. And now I work in the nonprofit sector–giving much of my time to those who need us.
There are so many ways to give, and if we all give a little (like my dad) then over time we can make this community a better place for all who call Rochester home.