Blown Away by Generosity

 

 

Well, in exactly one week, we'll be flying away to Kiev! For the past few days, the world that I'm living in seems unreal. After all this time, we're finally here and it feels like there must be a million things to still do, but I'm trying to realistically let go knowing there is no way everything will get done... so there.

 

This afternoon I had to clear out the dining room of the boxes of socks, slippers & underwear that have been arriving, because it looks like we are moving out! The generosity that has been shown by people both in Canada and also from the States has taken my breath away. I wrote my original email just off the top of my head, not thinking too much about the outcome. Email is just such a fast and easy thing, it's as quick as a thought. I really had no expectations that this would take off the way it did- with a special thank you the people of a pretty amazing company, Ipsos Canada. (As in Ipsos the polling people.) With the help of three offices in 3 provinces, they sent an incredible 348 pairs of socks, 190 pairs of underwear, 16 pairs of slippers (a special thank you to the person who donated some beautiful hand-knit ones), 5 pairs of tights and 6 undershirts. Amazing, amazing, amazing.

 

The grand final total is as follows:

• 421 kids will have their feet warm in a new pair of socks
• 190 kids will have a fresh pair of underwear
• 22 kids will have toasty feet in new slippers this winter
• 5 little girls will have cozy tights to keep their legs warm
• 6 kids won't shiver because they'll have new undershirts
• 3 babies will have a fresh, cuddly onsie
• and 6 happy orphanage "Mamas" will be able to wipe little sticky fingers and mouths with a new washcloth

 

Thank you, thank you, thank you for the goodness of your hearts. 653 people will be changed because of your generosity. Please, really and truly stop and think about that for a minute: 653 people. Strangers on the other side of the world who live a very different life than what we are lucky to have as our own- and you are now connected to them in that moment of joy when they gratefully receive your gifts. What a feeling! Good work, everyone.

 

xoxo