It’s early Thanksgiving morning, so perhaps my blog post
should be titled “Let the Eating Begin!” or “Let the Shopping Begin!”
I hope you get to eat with your family, hug those you love, and
shop for your friends and for yourself this week. Then, on Tuesday, when you’ve
lived through the turkey, through Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and
Cyber Monday, you’ll be ready.
You’ll have made it through the melee and you’ll have earned
the calm fulfillment of Giving Tuesday. Benevolent is a Founding Member of the
GivingTuesday movement and we’re hoping that Tuesday will, in fact, be your
most rewarding, most self-rewarding day. After all, shopping is stressful - we
worry about how much we’re spending and whom we’ve forgotten on our list; we
worry about getting the best deals and about the buying decisions we’ve made.
Giving to help someone else, by contrast, is stress-free. We
can do it without worrying that we’re paying too much, without worrying if the
person we’re buying for will like or appreciate the sentiment behind our gift.
This Thanksgiving day, I’m thinking about Bart. He and his
wife and kids could have such an excellent holiday season if we come together
to help them over these few months while Bart’s training to become a welder. They
need help with winter clothes for their three kids, including school uniforms
and snow boots.
Here’s how Bart describes himself:
“I think of myself mostly as a great dad, loving husband,
provider, humble, positive, and self-motivated. I live with my wife of 11 years
and three beautiful kids - two sons and a daughter. I am going to school at
JARC to become a welder. I've worked at jobs including parking attendant,
machine operator, sales rep, security officer, and a material handler. Something
interesting about me is I enjoy reading books, playing video games, playing
sports, and traveling. I have a positive attitude and am a good father.”
Today is the opening bell of the giving season. Today I
invite you to join me: take a breath and reward yourself by stepping away from
holiday stress and helping someone out when it really matters.
When you take stock of all you’re thankful for today,
remember to be grateful that you have the opportunity to give. I know I am.
- megan kashner,
founder & ceo
Benevolent
