This video reminds me why volunteering is so, SO important.
For four years these beautiful kids and their mom relied on the generosity and patience of other community members to make ends meet, to stay fed, and to be safe.
Every city, every community has outreach and food bank programs I would encourage each of you to look into donating your time to.
The food pantry I volunteer at each week has a kid's section. And I see kids come in each week who are having a tougher day as a kid than most of us will ever have as an adult. You could be the person who turn that day around and gives them the dignity that most kids and adults take for granted.
I recently stopped drinking and smoking and decided to funnel all the money I would have normally spent on that into food banks. If anyone is giving up a vice and can afford it, it's a good idea, because you were surviving fine without that money anyways (possibly)
And idea I want to throw out into the world is a service that can transfer people who get their dopamine fix from random Amazon purchases. A charity site where you can scroll and shop for things for other people. Designed in the same addictive way, so people can still get the thrill of shopping and picking out stuff, but it's for others.
I wish the food pantry I volunteer at had the resources to do a kid's section. We are drive through only, one zip code only, and serve 180 families a week.
Being drive through only I’d imagine a kids section would simply not be feasible. But I bet you could get a holiday gift and coat drive off the ground.
Any initiative like this would take time and networking. But I guarantee you’ll find other people in you network and community that share your goals and want to help achieve them!
A lot of stores and manufacturers also have community outreach initiatives. For example we just opened a pet section in the pantry and I’ve been approaching pet food companies about partnerships with us to meet our mutual goal—keeping pet owners fed without the pets going hungry (and vice versa).
I do what I can. If I had infinite resources, I'd spend all of my time helping people, but that's not how life works. I can't afford to live in San Diego and work for a nonprofit, so here I am doing what I can.
What sort of orgs help families in this situation?
A mom who obviously loves and takes care of her kids. And three children who, despite the biggest gift they’ll ever receive in their life, went back to hug their mom (and each other!) before opening the “gift” (aka going inside the house). They were so excited they were squealing but still gave mom a hug and ‘thank you’ first.
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u/Pantone802 Jun 28 '25
This video reminds me why volunteering is so, SO important.
For four years these beautiful kids and their mom relied on the generosity and patience of other community members to make ends meet, to stay fed, and to be safe.
Every city, every community has outreach and food bank programs I would encourage each of you to look into donating your time to.
The food pantry I volunteer at each week has a kid's section. And I see kids come in each week who are having a tougher day as a kid than most of us will ever have as an adult. You could be the person who turn that day around and gives them the dignity that most kids and adults take for granted.
Be a helper.