Give Because You Can

Written by Deb Dorchak - March 4, 2010 7 Comments

I’m a big fan of Extreme Make Over: Home Edition. Have you ever watched it? For all I know I’m watching re-runs and it’s already off the air – I’m kind of slow that way sometimes.

On this show the cast looks for people in need of a new life and a leg up. They find families who have had hard times and are living in horrible conditions trying to hold it all together. When they find these families, they rebuild the house, give the family their dream vacations and in short, make a really huge difference in someone’s life in the space of  7 days.

My roomie always laughs at me when I say if I had that much money to do something like that with, I would do it. But it’s true. When I have it, I give it. Even when I don’t have it, I give it.

And that’s about the time Wendi has to put the breaks on before I end up giving everything away. Oh, but she does it with a smile.

What I’ve realized over the years is you don’t need a lot of money to make a difference in someone’s life. Changing a life could be something as small as a kind word at just the right time, or donating your services for a good cause, or even as simple as sending an email to put one friend in touch with the resources she desperately needs at that very moment.

Mom always did say the best things came in small packages, and Hope is the smallest package of all.

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7 Outstanding Responses to "Give Because You Can"

    Donna on March 4, 2010 at 2:16 pm • Permalink

    Hey, Wendi. Roomie?

    Deb Dorchak on March 4, 2010 at 2:22 pm • Permalink

    Ah, that wasn’t Wendi that wrote this ;) It was me.

    Allison Day on March 4, 2010 at 3:23 pm • Permalink

    This is so very true, Deb. I can’t even count the number of times you’ve done this for me. The little push out of my comfort zone that was necessary to help me reach the next level, the way you always seem to somehow know when to ping me when I’m having a less-than-great day and brighten me up, the way you always seem to know exactly what I need to hear when I need advice or when I’m going through difficult times.

    It’s not material things that matter… not nearly so much as it is the little things like these. Being there. Being a friend. Making sure someone knows that you care about them. Showing someone that you appreciate them. Those are the things that, as insignificant as they may sound, and as easy as they may be on your end, can change lives.

    And you have done these things so many times for me… half the time I wonder if you even realize you’re doing it. I suspect sometimes you have no idea how much you’ve changed my life, and surely others as well, with the little kindnesses you give. :)

    Deb Dorchak on March 4, 2010 at 4:00 pm • Permalink

    @Allison: Some call that paying forward, others the Golden Rule, although with the latter I’d say “Do unto others better than you would have them do unto you”, because we all know we often treat other people way better than we treat ourselves.

    Lance on March 5, 2010 at 8:20 am • Permalink

    Deb,
    I believe very deeply that, while lots of money can go a long way toward making a difference – what is most real is when giving is done with care and compassion (and that’s in however we can give). Anyway, Deb, what you are doing is wonderful!
    .-= Lance’s last post… RAOKA: Passion =-.

    Friar on March 5, 2010 at 9:36 am • Permalink

    If you send some money, I promise, it will make me happy!

    Doesn’t have to be much. Even $100 will do the trick! :-)
    .-= Friar’s last post… You Know You’re Living in Small-Town Ontario When… =-.

    Jenny on March 15, 2010 at 12:05 pm • Permalink

    I’m like that, when I go on vacation, I get so worried about trying to get souveniers for all my friends and family that sometimes I forget some for myself or my husband!
    .-= Jenny’s last post… Asking for a Miracle by the Pool =-.