One of my favorite things about the holiday season is that the idea of giving is all around us.
Yes, the world still churns along with its overwhelming troubles and tribulations, but among it all, giving to each other causes us real pause. Riding to work I hear a series on MPBN about, “what is giving to you?” and a young schoolgirl tells of starting a group at school to give back. She expects no one to show up, but 40 fellow students attend the first meeting. “There are no rules to giving, and no matter what you give, it makes a difference,” she concludes.
I open an email from a man whose individual challenges would seem insurmountable to most. He benefited from a small act of giving. “I believe that what you give in life, what comes from the goodness of your heart, comes back to you tenfold,” he writes. “My wife and I have always tried to do for others when we could. We have never had a lot to work with, but we always managed to add a little to the charitable pots from time to time. The goodness that creeps in and soothes the soul is well worth the effort, no matter how little or how small.” This comes from a working man not of great financial means whose life changed dramatically overnight at 49 when he lost his sight and became blind.
An anonymous caller reaches an automobile salesman asking if is there anything he can do to help 27 people who only hours before, at 2:30 a.m., were left homeless by a devastating fire. They escaped with only the clothes they were sleeping in. Their very modest apartment building is gone, their vehicles destroyed and their possessions are no more. He finds drivers and vans, coordinates with the Red Cross, and over the next four days provides transportation while they start to put their lives back together. You need only hear his stories of gratitude from those 27 people to know the rewards of giving.
Also, this time of year I have the privilege of telling people about the United Way of Eastern Maine and how important the work of the 52 agencies it funds are to the communities of the five counties they serve.
When I attend meetings, I hear heart-wrenching stories about hope, caring, support and real giving. A story about an underprivileged small boy who receives an ice cream and a new book. “This is the best day of my life,” he replies. A story about an oil delivery man who, after finding an elderly couple who had pushed their bed into the kitchen next to the electric stove to stay warm, contacts an agency to bring them needed fuel assistance because they were too proud to ask. A story about a little girl helped by an agency dedicated to assisting grief-stricken children overcome the loss of a parent or caregiver. This little girl completely withdraws from communication after the sudden death of her mother in an accident, yet after a year in the program tells those who have worked with her that she now knows she does not need to come anymore because her mom now lives in her heart.
There’s the story about a young man with a wife and new baby who gives, out of his check each week, even though they are struggling with his entry-level seasonal construction job. “I know it’s important,” he says. A story about a Big Brother mentoring a seemingly uncontrollable young man and transforming him into someone who describes himself as “someone I like and am proud to be.” A story about a family member feeling trapped, then having someone to call for help and a place to go in order to escape the horror of domestic violence. There are thousands of stories like these that show the rewards of giving.
However, there is one more story that needs to be told in this time when giving is so important — the critical need that still exists in this year’s United Way of Eastern Maine Campaign, which has been affected by serious changes to some strong supporters of the United Way.
Closures and cutbacks continue to affect some of our traditional industries. It is important that the families affected by the closure of these businesses know that the very same agencies they have so strongly supported year after year through the United Way will continue to serve our communities during these changing times.
Ron Russell works as an operations director for a local automotive company, supports the United Way and lives on Verona Island. Visit www.unitedwayem.org to support the United Way of Eastern Maine Campaign.