How A Child Reaffirmed For Me That Selflessness Does Exist
A sweet little girl named Shyanne opened my eyes to what it means to be selfless during a hardship.
When working in the Spreading Seeds Food Bank I met a very special 8-year-old girl named Shyanne.
Shyanne and her Mom came to the food bank in hopes of getting canned food and vegetables. While Mom was filling out the paperwork I asked the little girl her name, she whispered, “My name is Shyanne”. Shyanne then sat down beside me and began to ask me questions.
Shyanne asked, “Why do you give food away?”. I told her that we want to make sure that no one ever goes hungry. Then she asked, “Do you help a lot of people?”. I said that we help as many people as we can.
With a curious look on her face, she questioned, “Will Mommy be able to get us green beans?”. I said, “Why yes Shyanne we do have green beans today”. Shyanne got a big smile on her face and exclaimed green beans were her favorite. She stated she would eat them instead of cereal for dinner. I asked Shyanne what else she eats for dinner and she replied, “Oh, I eat cereal almost every day, except the days we don’t have any food.” My heart sank because I couldn’t imagine myself in her shoes.
I then asked Shyanne does she eat breakfast and lunch and she answered, “Yes, I eat my breakfast and lunch at school every day but when I’m not at school, not so much”. She got a sad look on her face and I asked, “Shyanne what’s wrong?”. She answered with the most heartbreaking and heart-warming thing I’ve ever heard from a child, “I need to grow up fast so I can get a good job and help Mommy. I want to buy food for my Mommy!”.
I leaned over and lifted up Shyanne’s chin with my hand so that she was looking right at me and I responded, “Shyanne what a wonderful plan but don’t worry we will help Mommy with the food so you just stay the sweet little girl you are!” Shyanne gave me a big hug and whispered thank you, then she ran off to help her Mommy pick out their food.
Everyday Spreading Seeds provides food to individuals and families living below the poverty level. In Wilson County alone that’s 27.9% of the population. Incredibly we have 42.4% of children living below the poverty level in comparison to the entire state at 23.2%. Wilson County single female parent family poverty level is at an astounding 72.7%.
Spreading Seeds is where PASSION and PURPOSE come together! But, they need your support! Please join them by donating to help improve the quality of life for those less fortunate! You will be providing help today and hope tomorrow. Help like this can be a stepping stone that allows the recipients to overcome the cycle of poverty.
Your donation will be a life-changing gift that will leave an ever-lasting impact on the lives of people they serve.
Spreading Seeds is providing hope for the community of Wilson through service of food, education, and clothing to qualified individuals. They could improve by engaging the community to learn where make changes can happen outside of the Spreading Seeds location such as with donors, volunteers, and community leaders.