The Road to Personal Growth and Charity

I am an only child, so growing up I was used to being spoiled, having my way, and not particularly caring about anyone other than myself. My room was littered with toys and other material things, and I never wanted to give anything away to charity. My things were exactly that, my things.

Every time one of those Christian Life commercials showing children and families from Third-World countries came on the television, I would grab the remote and change the channel. “If they know they are so poor, and can’t afford to eat, why do they keep having children?” I would always say to my mother. She would just shake her head at me and tell me I had no compassion, and I would agree with her.

Up until a few years ago, I was still acting like a spoiled little brat. I had no sympathy or compassion towards anyone, and often times, I would turn my nose up at less fortunate people and charities. While browsing in The Body Shop, I came across a bracelet the store was selling where 100 percent of the proceeds went to researching AIDS. I don’t know anyone with AIDS or HIV, but something inside of me went on like a light switch, and in that moment, I felt like the Grinch, my heart grew.

As I was staring at the box of bracelets, the girl at the register asked if I needed help picking out a colour. I decided to go with the red one, to coincide with the AIDS red ribbon. The price of the bracelet was not even $14, but the best, and most rewarding part of that purchase was the Body Shop employee saying, “Thank you for your donation.” The main idea behind the bracelet I bought is that the person wearing it is supposed to keep it on until there is a cure for AIDS. On the inside of the bracelet it reads, “Until there’s a cure” and offers the website, www.until.org. That was almost four years ago and the only time I have taken it off has been to clean it.

Last December, I became aware of TOMS Shoes. The idea behind TOMS is that for every pair of shoes someone purchases, a pair is donated to a child in need in a Third-World country. Once again, something in me lit up and I wanted to help I spent a mere $40 and felt so fabulous knowing that I had just helped someone in need. Whenever I wear my TOMS I feel great and whenever people ask where I got my shoes, I tell them, but I also tell them what TOMS Shoes does.

Slowly but surely, I find myself wanting to do more. A few months ago, I sponsored two friends in a run for cancer. I felt so good after and I wasn’t even participating. It is definitely easy for this generation to become more active in charity work, especially with all the celebrities campaigning (think Bono, Bob Geldof, Paul McCartney, Ryan Gosling). Behind every celebrity is a charity of choice, whether it be for children in poverty, war ravaged countries or animals, advocating and campaigning has gone beyond the point of being trendy, it is a necessity.

So what can you do to help? Here are some things to start you off:

1. Clean out your closet.
We buy so much and hoard everything, so why not take a take to clean and sort out everything that you do not need or are not using. Donate everything to a thrift store, the Salvation Army or the Red Cross.

2. Educate yourself.
Not educating yourself about world issues is probably the worst thing anyone can do (or not do). Read up on Darfur, or what a local charity does in your community, because guaranteed, you will want to help once you know more.

3. Volunteer your time.
Lend a hand in a soup kitchen, or become a street team member to advocate. Write a letter to your local politician about an issue you are passionate about and ask for change. Who knows, your one letter could start a domino effect.

4. Spread the word.
Once you have educated yourself, do not hold onto that information. Tell your friends about what you have learned, how they can help, and what you can do as a team to help others.

The most rewarding part is knowing other people are benefiting from your kindness and charity. You do not have to donate hundreds or thousands of dollars to charities to make a difference, a donation as small as $1, or even an hour of your time can a big difference.

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