Hey there!
So, I'm writing this post in response to a very nice poster on my blog site here, and a suggestion that she had for me. Here we go!
It's the holiday season, as you all know, and this is the time of year when the Giving Tree is put out here at the hospital. I LOVE when that tree comes out! I rush down and pick out a mess of cards. They range anywhere from asking for onsies for a newborn, diapers, stuffed toys, and stuff for older kids as well, like CDs or PS3 games. I take 1 card of every type of item and wait for the day I can go shopping. I typically go shopping on the payday before the gifts are due back at the hospital. This year, that means this Wed. is go day! YEAH!
I have done this type of thing for years. It started when I was a lowly vet tech. many years ago, not making much $$, and was just really down one Christmas. So I took out a $500 loan and spent the entire thing on a giving tree at the mall. Gods, that was fun! I knew I would have a hell of a time paying it back (and boy did I! ) but I don't regret that decision at all!
And so it began.
After a few years at my vet tech job, I asked the boss if instead of taking us all out to lunch or dinner for our Christmas gift, if he would just donate that amount to be spent on a giving tree. He agreed, as did the rest of the staff! So, it became tradition to shut the clinic down for 2 hours on a given day, jump in a few cars and drive down to We Be Toys and Stuff and grab the appointed gifts on the cards. Then it was back to the clinic to eat the potluck we all made, and wrap gifts! It was a blast every single year!
Well, here at Harborview, volunteer services has multiple events that they post every year at given times. School supplies, baby supplies, and of course the Giving Tree. There is also National Hunger Awareness Day as well. I do them all!
I am really fortunate that I have a good paying job ( I can just be real bad at budgeting! ), a roof over my head, food to eat, great family, friends, and you folks here! :)
So if you want to put a smile on my face, other than just being so great as you all are by commenting here, find a giving tree in your area and donate 1 gift to a needy child, or adult for that matter. Help make someone who is far less fortunate than I have a happier holiday this season! Cheers!!! Kari :]