Charity;Hope

The other day, someone asked me what it was about community work that had my heart and if I felt despair over the little we’re capable of in the grand scheme of the world’s problems and, I could think of a couple answers; but the one that felt like it truly expressed my passion for it was one worded; Hope.

They always say that it's the little things, right? But you don't truly know how potent "little" can be until you've seen your actions reflected in someone else's eyes. I’ll admit that sometimes, I get caught up in the grand scheme of things. Am I doing enough? Couldn't I be doing more? I start to compare and despair because, well, the world's troubles are like one of those never-ending movie franchises. You always think you've seen the last of them, then boom! Sequel. And why are YOU thinking about Fast and the Furious?

But through my time volunteering, I've come to learn that perhaps the greatest expression of hope is the extension of a helping hand. A smile, warm food, a listening ear – they might seem like drops of water in a burning desert. But what if every single one of us offered a drop? Wouldn't that desert start to transform? 

We often underestimate our impact. We focus on the enormity of the problems instead of the beauty in the moment of connection. When you’re there, sharing a meal at the shelter, donating those old clothes, or visiting the sick, what you see reflected back isn't just gratitude. It's a flicker of belief, that yes, maybe things can be better. That warmth, that gentle light in someone's eyes, says "you've helped keep my hope alive." We were at a volunteering event in Karatina recently and the genuine expression of gratitude, happiness and hope would drown you. With the elderly, we sang and danced and conversed and all you could hear was how lighter the air had gotten, the smiles that lit up an otherwise gloomy atmosphere, the softness where there was gruntled expressions. And in that moment, your whole world is filled, then you begin to undertsand.

The world isn't healed in a single heroic act. It's mended, thread by thread, by these moments of kindness we offer each other. You're not just putting a smile on a face; you're extending a hand and saying, "I see you, I care, and somehow, we'll get through this." That's powerful. That's the fuel that keeps us fighting, keeps us believing that change is possible.

So yeah, go volunteer at that shelter you always pass by. Gather up some friends and take that old stuff gathering dust in your closet to donate. Find out if your local hospital needs someone to talk to patients and bring them an escape from the monotony of their days. It might seem insignificant in the face of everything, but that's the point. You focus on your little corner of the world and do what you can to make it kinder.

You won't save everyone. You won't erase every bit of pain. But that's okay. Be someone's little flicker of hope, a reminder that the world still has good in it. That's how we start to heal, one kind act at a time.