The personal experiences of The Giving Spirit’s volunteers show us how deeply rewarding is the experience of helping others.
We encourage all volunteers to share what they have experienced while helping TGS serve the immediate needs of the 100,000 + homeless in Los Angeles. Just leave a comment in reply to this post and your comment will be available for others to read.
We look forward to your story.
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My name is Luci Corona, I have been with The Giving Spirit for 3 years. This organization allows you to be involved in any way you can help, it invites you to bring your family and share the experiences together. I have taken my boss, my niece my nephew my son and my husband and they have all taken with them a great experience.
Last Christmas my husband and I distributed a duffel to a man next to a grocery store, he directed us to a car parked on the side street. There was a middle aged couple living in their car. It still makes me emotional to think, we would have never known they were there, but they were very grateful and we were very happy the supplies would make their day a little better. I never thought people parked in cars where homeless. That is not an easy one to approach, for me at least.
This past weekend was an unbelievable experience. To actually shake someones hand and listen to them tell you their story…it was incredibly moving. Every single person I spoke to was so happy for the backpacks filled with items that I take for granted. Things like a pair of socks and sunscreen or a toothbrush. The reactions were as if I had given them a new car. I received so much more than I gave away and I walked away from the event incredibly humbled and sad. At the same time I feel blessed that I had the chance to change someones life if even for just 20 minutes while chatted.
I haven’t stopped thinking about this weekend. First in Venice Beach and then to the Covenant House in Hollywood, I was able to help homeless teens. But the most memorable part of my day was at the end when I took 4 backpacks on my own. I ended up driving around Westwood and had no problem finding homeless there. A woman in a wheelchair; a man homeless for 20 years sleeping on the steps of a church who said he watches the cars in the upscale neighboorhood so they don’t get stolen. I wonder if the residents know that? Then an older gentleman who’s first words when I offered him the backpack were “I’m a vegetarian. I hope there’s no meat in there!” I had a good conversation with him about animal rights. It’s ironic he was so concerned about animal welfare when his own welfare was being neglected by society. And then a totally surprised man, looked just like the rest of us, maybe a Vietnam veteran, whose body filled with joy at what I offered him. I asked him how he was and, without saying the obvious, he said he was hanging in there. I felt honored to exchange words and a little time with him. I wish I could do more. There’s so many more out there, but I am grateful to TGS to have been able to help those who I did this weekend.
This past weekend was a wonderful experience – from sorting, counting & packing with cheerful, committed people to our visit to the Women’s Downtown Shelter and later out onto Skid Row to deliver packs to people we found on the streets – all so grateful and many, many “God Bless Yous”. One of my favorite memories was at the Shelter. We gave backpacks, socks, shoes & makeup to women you use the Shelter as a safe haven during the day. Then next door to give backpacks to the women who are residents. On my way out, I saw two of the women we had gifted earlier. One was holding 2 beautiful bouquets of peonies. I commented on how lovely they were and she insisted that I take them. I initially said “no thank you, you keep them” but it was obviously very important to her that I accept her gift. “You take care of them, give them water”! I gave her a hug of thanks. For the rest of the day I had to protect them from all the backpacks that were being loaded & unloaded and was rethinking the gift! But, true to my promise, when I came home I cut their stems and put them in water. They looked pretty pitiful and droopy. But the next morning and every day since they have been gorgeous and the loveliest reminder of the woman who wanted to say thank you with flowers.
I’ve been with TGS for roughly 7 months now. I found this amazing organization last year, literally hours before the December event started. When I initially signed up, I had only intended to stay for that one evening – loading and lifting boxes and crates to prepare for the subsequent assembly lines the next day. It might have been the sincerity of the volunteers. Perhaps it was the lively spirit of a bunch of people doing a bit of good on a cold and rainy day. Maybe it was truly seeing what I have so long shut my eyes to for the first time in a long time. Whatever the reason(s) may be, I found myself back volunteering the next day, and the next, and the one following. I spent a total of 4 days helping out and by the end of the last day, I was fully 100% on board with TGS and its mission. Moreover, I wanted to know how I could lend a hand in a larger capacity.
I can’t pinpoint the moment when I knew that TGS was something valuable (invaluable even!) to not only the community, but to me as well. If I had to take a guess, I might say that it was when someone told me TGS wasn’t perpetuating homelessness; it was perpetuating humanity. I liked that; I, too, wanted to perpetuate humanity. The roller coaster of emotions on the day of distribution is hard to sum up in words, but the memories of handing out kits to the needy and being thanked incessantly to an overwhelming sense of appreciation and gratefulness for what I so easily take for granted every day … those memories certainly speak for themselves.
From TGS, I have learned:
-to smile and say hello to the homeless
-to appreciate my wonderful life
-to ask myself what more can I do for those who can’t (at present)
-that doing good costs me nothing but the return is near priceless
I’ll see you there this December.