Expat Community > Philippines

leah1435013
Joined 2015
Posts: 27

Follow up to "Moving". Hanging up the giving shoes

9 years ago

There has been quite a response. Surprised but not surprised. A few comments in response. After 13 years I am hanging up the giving shoes. It takes a lot of work, and yes, a lot of my own money over 13 years in 3 countries and 6 states in the U.S.
When you are the decision maker it is a more difficult process especially when you have to say no. Christmas can be the most difficult because people come out of the woodwork and when you are giving away food and toys you also see the underbelly of life. I learned a long time ago to look to the stars because if you look for the bad it is all around you. Look for the few you have helped that has an impact and at times can change lives or at the very least creates a memory for that person that they long remember. Somebody was there, somebody helped when it seemed there wasn't anyone willing to do so. It can be a life preserver and a springboard
Over that time of 13 years I have helped over 10,000 people myself. Never had a donation and I structured it so I bough the food in country, made sure it was prepared and then served by volunteers who I taught about giving and that giving is to be done without any expectation in return. It is its own reward internally. No over head, no salaries and 100% going to those we help.That is enough and most I have done anonymously except when I am talking about each event. I have had to be more careful with my anonymity because they can have it's own pitfalls as I described.
Being worse than a legally blind person as far as my sight over the last few years has added to the complications . But, where there is a will there is a way.Especially in a foreign country that I had not visited before I moved here.
I have had one donation in those 13 years. It was for the vent that I described here from my friend of 30 years that too me six months to get it out of him. Thank you , John Amato , V.P. CalCartage. LOL. Never the less I still used my own money and the donation remains in my www.gofundme.com/amyimg account.
I will do two more events. One in Leyte with a good friend here I know in November and one in December for the employees of the Gaisano Grand Mall who have to work on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I don't understand how a deeply religious Catholic society allows that but since don't use my eyebrows to communicate, eat with a spoon or say Oh My Gud often I will leave that to a later date. Anyone who wants to donate to my last hurrahs please do so at the gofundme site listed above. I would be honored.
I will remember many things but the most was Mexico in 2010 on my way to Anagua in the first of 5 donated 45 foot tractor trailers of food we were able to come up with and having the truck stopped. Two federales get into the cab and put loaded machine guns to my head on both sides and directed my volunteer driver to drive to the gymnasium so they could take their cut. The pleasures of drug routes in a time of crisis. Thank you all for your comments and take care. Art Pike,
Mary Jane. Aide

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Follow up to "Moving". Hanging up the giving shoes

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