"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping." - Fred Rogers
This quote by Mr. Rogers always comes to mind when something difficult happens in our world. Lately it has made its way to my mind a lot. We are still navigating our way through a pandemic and in February, we experienced a brutal week of extreme Texas winter weather. In both instances, it was wonderful to see the helpers. Beginning last year we saw groups making masks or making grocery runs for the elderly or immunocompromised. People changed their lifestyles for each other and businesses promoted social distancing to help our community safely resume our lives. After the intense winter event last month that left many of us without water, electricity or heat for long periods, we saw neighbors swapping goods, driving on ice to find water and firewood or checking in on those who didn’t have heat or help. We have good neighbors around here.
At The Caring Place our helping neighbors are abundant. On behalf of our staff, Board of Directors and those we serve, we thank you good neighbors for your support during our 2021 Amplify campaign. We've already announced that this was our most successful Amplify campaign to date, raising just over $99,000! This huge gift of love wouldn't have happened without all of you. Your continued support keeps The Caring Place fulfilling its mission through good times and bad. Right now, your support is giving a lifeline to those who have been adversely impacted by the pandemic and are trying to get by during a tumultuous year.
Recently, we interviewed Board Member Dayne and his wife Pam Carlson about why they give. They’ve always been generous, but during Amplify they participated in our Board Match. Dayne shared with us that he grew up in the Methodist church and he remembered something John Wesley said about giving, "Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.” Dayne said that quote stuck with him through his life and is one of the many reasons he and Pam give today.
We don't know why you give, but we do know like Dayne and Pam, you have your reasons. Like them, you may also see The Caring Place as an organization that is consistently recognized as the best place to give/volunteer in Georgetown. Or maybe you look into our financials and see our Charity Navigator recognition and know we are good stewards of what we are given. You may also read our online testimonials or know individuals who have been impacted by receiving assistance. Whatever your reasons for giving to this homegrown organization - thank you! You make a difference to families struggling with fulfilling the most basic of needs.
Want more ways to stay involved and connected with The Caring Place? Dayne and Pam have great advice on that front too! Shop! Dayne is a long-time volunteer as a cashier at The Caring Place. He is a people person and loves his interactions with customers. He enjoys coming home to Pam and sharing with her the unique things people find or Do-It-Yourself projects they are contemplating. Early in the pandemic he brought home mountains of boxes to sort and price baseball cards for The Caring Place. He surely covered the family’s dining table for days! Pam is an avid shopper at The Caring Place herself and loves knowing that when she purchases treasures at The Caring Place, she is doing something we like to call "shopping for good." Shopping or donating items is one of the simplest ways to support The Caring Place mission. Pam is one of our biggest cheerleaders when it comes to the concept of "shopping for good." Ambassadors of The Caring Place like Pam are so valuable to The Caring Place mission.
Dayne's gift of time is another way he supports The Caring Place mission. In fact, when he's volunteering, you'll often hear his warm voice speaking on the intercom in both English and Spanish as he welcomes you or bids you farewell at The Caring Place. We look forward to a time when we can once again welcome new volunteers to our fold. Dayne and Pam are a glowing example of the community they build within our walls.
Once again, thank you for your support during this past year. And if you are looking for more ways to help, support and shine bright in our community, just ask Dayne and Pam! They probably have a few ideas for you. They’ve definitely been some of the inspiring “helpers” we’ve seen around The Caring Place.
