Just for Girls

I was one of four children born to teenage parents and became a teenage parent myself, so I have lived paycheck to paycheck all of my life - never feeling like mine was a life of 'abundance'. That changed when I became involved with a local nonprofit dedicated to the care and education of young, at-risk girls living in poverty. I developed many skills over the years (out of necessity) and share them with these girls each quarter as part of "Project Impact", a series of service projects aimed at supporting at-risk, in-need, and marginalized populations throughout the community. With the help of a business partner, we sponsored and purchased supplies to make hand-made soaps with Just for Girls Middle school students. Not only did these girls bond over the creative venture, but they learned the joy of giving and discovered that everyone can be a hero to someone. We donated our soaps to HOPE Family Services, an agency that supports victims of domestic violence. I love this giving story because our gift multiplied exponentially - first by supporting Project Impact at Just for Girls, and second by allowing them to demonstrate their open hearts and generous spirits with HOPE Family Services. Many of the girls at JFG Middle are victims of trauma themselves, and it was inspirational to watch them transform from victim to advocate and mentor as they joyfully presented their gifts to other survivors of trauma. This experience taught me that our gifts do not end with our donation, but often take on a life of their own and become the catalyst for continued and sustained support throughout our neighborhoods and communities.