This week seems to be a
whirlwind of meetings, interviews, and presentations about the Lincoln Park
Community Shelter to different groups and students. I did set myself up for
this, with an ambitious goal of presenting 10 times in the month of June. Part
of it was because I really want the community to know all about the great work
we are doing, and another part was because our Fiscal Year ends on July 1st
and, since surpassing my presentation goals a few months back, I really wanted
to have some ridiculous number to reach as a final hurrah.
As I prepare for these
presentations, I try to find new and interesting visual aids. Sometimes I use
movies or I tell a unique story about a Graduate that is really accomplishing
something extraordinary (such as Albert and his win by having such a drastic improvement
in his health during our Get Healthy Challenge!). I was going through some past
photos and I came across this one that is almost a year old:
This is the photograph
that was taken when a little girl decided, completely on her own accord, to
start a lemonade stand. After learning about LPCS through a school group that
volunteered, she decided that she would like to find a way to give back. While
most kids are using their allowances on video games or cd players (I may be
aging myself…), Madeline did something unique. She worked for this money, and
then she gave it to people in need.
That was such a
wonderful moment for me as a contributor to LPCS. At such a young age, this
little girl has recognized that you have to work hard to earn money. Sometimes
it means going to a regular job you don’t love, and other times it means
standing on the street with a glass of cold lemonade and selling this to nearby
customers.
I also was able to take
a moment this morning to reflect upon
the importance of going out to the community and sharing about LPCS. If I go to
ten places in a month, and speak to 20 people at each place, I will have
reached over 200 people. If in those 200 people, even one person is inspired to
help out an organization, such as LPCS, then I will have done something
worthwhile.
Madeline is an inspiring girl and I look forward to
all of the great things she will do as she grows up!
What are some creative ways, such as a lemonade stand, that you can
think of to raise money for a cause or give back to the community? Please share
here!
By: Meghan Freebeck, Community Relations Manager
