Day 90 ❦ Give and Inspire Others

Day 90 ❦ Give and Inspire Others

The Gift: Cash for Flood Victims Times Two

As a result of the recent gifting by Rotary to the flood victims, the continuing plight of those impacted by the floods in Austin has received a lot of media attention. As with most disasters, the media is all over it when there are devastating pictures, tears, and heart-breaking stories but absent when the pain remains and the photo ops are gone. Perhaps the Rotary gifting opportunity created new reasons for the media to stand up and again highlight the pain that remains so that the community consciousness can be piqued. For whatever reason, a number of organizations are again doing some fund-raising for the on-going needs of the flood victims, especially those who need mittens, hats and coats as we approach the winter in Minnesota.

Our youngest daughter has been learning about money. Now this girls is a money magnet - odd jobs and gifts come her way all of the time and as a young child, she has some significant spending power. So we decided to work with her on a plan to think about how she spends, saves and gives and we are encouraging her to actively give a percentage of all of her income. She has taken this seriously and has become a very considerate giver. She enjoys learning about what her money is going to do and especially likes talking to the people who will be using her funding to do something meaningful. Today is no exception.

Now Shannon was aware of what was happening with the Rotary gift bags because she helped to stuff the bags with all of the Christmas goodies - both of our daughters spent an evening with Rotarians filling the bags. And to a sensitive child with a huge heart, the thought of people who did not have food or Christmas tree decorations was almost more than she could bear. (Author’s Note: Shortly after this experience, we were in Washington D.C. and when Shannon saw her first homeless person on the streets with a sign asking for money for food, she handed him her lunch which we had just bought at the Spy Museum.)

So today as I drive through a coffee shop after picking Shannon up from school, I notice a box collecting donations for mittens for the flood victims and ask that my change be put in the box. Shannon asks the clerk at the counter about the box and who the money will be going for and when she is satisfied that it is legit, she takes her mittens off, hands them to me to put in the box and then digs out the $9 that she has been carrying around looking for a cause to give to. I match her gift with both my gloves and an additional $9 and we drive away. Pretty cool day, and hopefully, warmer for someone.

❦ Give and Inspire Others