It starts early. People begin by looking into their hearts and then out to their communities. Someone knows someone who knows someone else, and the next thing you know, there’s a whole group of people working together. At SHARE we call this group a host site team. They join forces to bring us together for food and community. And during the holiday season, they reach out to hundreds of new people and invite them to join the SHARE family. Maybe you are one of them!
It is traditional for people to do good deeds during the holidays. What’s special about SHARE volunteers is that they make it seem like Christmas all year long. They do this by giving some of their time and lots of their love. Their time is spent taking food orders, collecting money, keeping track of it all and then making sure the food gets distributed to the right people on SHARE Day. It is this volunteer effort that makes it possible for SHARE to help people save 30-50% on food, month after month, year after year. The love is spread as good cheer: a smile for someone who may have lost a job; a phone call to someone who is homebound; a job to do on SHARE Day for someone who wants to make a difference; a hug for anyone who needs one.
If you are new to SHARE or one of the many people who have made SHARE a part of your monthly food buying cycle, I invite you to join me in thanking the volunteer teams that make this organization work. They are angels among us, bringing the spirit of Christmas to life in our everyday world. We appreciate them more than words can say.
And to each of you I send my best wishes for a peaceful holiday and the very best for you and yours in 2010. May you be richly blessed with Christmas joy.