By Linda Fodrini‐Johnson, MA, MFT, CMC
Founder & Chairman, Eldercare Services
We are asked to give daily to some charity or organization we belong to. We see natural disasters all over the world and see the needs. What pulls you to give and how do you make decisions to do so?
Do you set aside a certain amount of money from your monthly income to give to charities? Do you just give when the time is right and your heart is touched or your grandchild has a fundraiser and you want to help them make their goal?
There is much written about the generous giver and the rewards of doing so – improved sense of worth, good in the eyes of God, setting examples for children and grandchildren making you feel good about forming good citizens of the future.
Generosity surprises me all the time…recently in our office, my husband Bruce’s Rotary Club was collecting back to school “Back Packs” with a list of supplies to fill them with. Within days, the staff of our small business filled 15 of them. Giving children less fortunate a “head start” on being prepared for the school year is a great act of kindness.
I actually think that generosity is in the hearts of everyone, but they need to know who and how their gifts will be received – they need to trust the collector of the funds or items will extend their generosity to where it is most needed.
When I give my grandchildren money, I ask that they save 10%, give 10% of the money to any charity or fundraiser and keep the 80% for themselves. Not sure they follow through with this suggestion, but they have heard it enough that I think it will form generous souls at some point in their young lives.
Giving to others can at times be a sacrifice – we hear stories all the time of people donating kidneys or bone marrow to complete strangers. Giving of time being a volunteer is also a way to extend gratitude.
Enrich your life; have a plan to give and make a difference on a regular basis. Thank you Eldercare Staff for your kindness to children you will never meet!