My Nonprofit Reviews

My friend, Susan just got back from New Mexico, where she goes to volunteer as a

doctor on an Indian reservation. She was telling me that, although she is not a

religious person, she saw an awe-inspiring scene while driving. A thunderstorm had

just passed, leaving clouds of all shades of red, pink and purple. As she was coming dangerously close to driving off the road, because of looking at the incredible sky,

she rounded a curve and came upon an even more beautiful sight. A cliff just ahead

was striped in the same colors as the sky! She had tears in her eyes telling me about

it. So, I told her of having a similar feeling last Friday, while working for Operation

School Bell at one of the Dickinson dressing days. I was working at the check-out

desk, so had a ring-side seat to watch all the kids trying on clothes, while our Assistance

League helpers were knocking themselves out for these kids. They were literally

running, back and forth, exchanging sizes and colors, handing out praise and positive

comments for all our little "customers." They were behaving as if they were getting

paid millions! They were working as if they were trying for a promotion! I heard so

many phrases like "way to go" and "I could never do this without this great support

system". I admit to my own tears, while thinking "these women don't have to work

like this". They don't have to give up their time. They don't have to lift heavy boxes

or mop floors the size of football fields, or deal with problems for six straight

hours. Yet, they keep showing up for this really difficult task, of clothing over 3,000 at-

risk children, never letting their co-workers or the kids down, and never asking for

anything but the chance to help the less fortunate in our world. I'm not religious

either, but watching all that lifted my heart that day!


Ellen Lancaster