Week of Action – Meeting New People is Pure Joy!

During Week of Action, I was personally involved in two projects:

·      Cards of EnCOURAGEment, an event coordinated by United Way at the St. Cloud Public Library.  More than 70 children and adults created 465 simple homemade cards that were sent to deployed service members and to service members who are home and getting extensive medical treatment.

·      Helped out at Oak Ridge Elementary KIDSTOP site in Sartell.  Along with three other volunteers (two adults and one young teen), we put frosting on Halloween cookies and served the kids, we helped a group of children make Halloween cards and one volunteer listened to children read.

Both were memory making experiences….

One  woman who made cards who has a son in Iraq. Her son’s wife and their two young children were there too.  The little boy was so energetic.  They saved their cards to send directly to Dad.

I met a young boy and his grandpa who came because they felt this was a positive thing to do together.  The little boy made a card with a spider man sticker that read “Aren’t you glad all heroes do not have to wear tights?”  You have to chuckle at that one.

I sat next to a wonderful woman from Somalia named Maryan who made several heartfelt cards and talked about her value for freedom in this country.

I met several students from SCSU who heard about this and wanted a way to show their appreciation.

A group of women from a local company came together, partly as a social event but mostly to honor the men and women in their lives and workplaces who are in the military.

I met a fun imaginative group of children who go to KIDSTOP on a regular basis afterschool.  I heard so many thank yous expressed to me and the other volunteers from the children and the staff. 

There was one girl who talked about Halloween and how their family would not be getting costumes because money was tight but they could have a little family party that evening together.

One 3^rd grade boy was making a card for a friend who had had a rough day.  I was the hot glue gun woman so I got to help him finish up the final touches quick before he had to leave.

I was so impressed with all these people, young and old, who were thinking of others and their actions showed it.  It was inspiring!