Giving Season

 Tis the season to give. With 1 week until Thanksgiving it has me thinking about how I used to physically help others.

- When I was in Elementary School I bought, packed and shipped care packages to US Soldiers fighting in Desert Shield/Storm using my Allowance.

- When I was a Cub Scout and a Boy Scout we did different charitable things like collecting and distributing food to the Hungry and clothes and supplies to the Homeless.

- When I was in Middle School in Germany I collected food and clothes to give to the refugees from the Wars in Bosnia, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Macedonia and Serbia. I also worked Summer Hire and donated my earnings to help them instead of flying to the States for vacation.

- When I was in High School I regularly went with my Girlfriend and her Family to a Soup Kitchen and helped.

- Also during High School I bought, packed and shipped care packages to US Soldiers Overseas as well as sending Cards to Veterans and Disabled Soldiers around the US.

- For 4 Summers during College I worked at an overnight Summer Camp for the Mentally and Physically Disabled in New York.

- During College in I worked at the local Suicide Prevention Hotline.

- Also during College I bought, packed and shipped care packages to US Soldiers overseas.

- The 2nd time I studied in Russia I volunteered at an Institution for Disabled Children.

- For 8 years I was the Full-Time Caregiver to my Disabled and Ill Family Member.

- During that same time I also bought, packaged and sent care packages to US Soldiers overseas as well as cards to Veterans and Disabled Soldiers across the country.

Today I don't do much physically anymore. So far this year I have donated clothes, perishable and non-perishable food to Food Banks for People; donated supplies and food to Animal Food Banks; wrote numerous Chanukah and Christmas Cards and numerous Birthday/Get Well/Just Because Cards to US Soldiers, Veterans, the Disabled and the Sick as well as donating money to different charities that help: Soldiers, Military Families, the Hungry, the Homeless, the Disabled and Animals.

I really do miss physically going out and helping people though.