The Spirit Of Giving
I truly enjoy this time of year. From the time that we carve our pumpkins at Halloween, to the time that we carve our turkeys at Thanksgiving and Christmas, the season evokes wonderful memories and helps us to create new ones that will last us a lifetime. One of my family’s cherished holiday memories is our yearly donation to the Bethpage Federal Credit Union’s Turkey Drive, which collects and donates meals for Island Harvest.
This year’s event, which was held on Tuesday, Nov. 18 in the BFCU parking lot in Hicksville, was no different than any other year that we dropped off a frozen turkey with all the fixings. We saved up enough to put together a meal or two for those in need, we got our free turkey from ShopRite and we headed over to the event. It was the coldest day of autumn but we were undeterred — we were giving something of ourselves that day, which kept us feeling warm and fuzzy, even in the brisk wind.
We’ve been donating food, clothing and toys to families in need for many years. When my daughter was much younger, we spearheaded a toy drive for our church. I’ll never forget the look on her face when we gathered the teddy bears and toys together for the drop-off; she seemed almost sad. When I asked her what was troubling her, her response cut me to the quick: “Mommy, I’m sad because other kids don’t have toys.” When I explained to her the importance of giving, she brightened and asked if we could buy more. If only I had the funds to do so…
Since that memorable Christmas, my daughter has accompanied us to almost every donation drop off, and has become a “giver” herself. It warms my heart when I see her offer her time to help us unload packages for those in need. Hopefully, she will inspire the children that she works with, as well as her own children one day, to realize that it isn’t just about getting at the holidays—it’s about the spirit of giving.
It’s important for us to remember that giving should be a part of our daily lives. Whether we give our time, our finances, our unwanted clothing, or food for a local pantry, we are still giving. When we offer a friendly smile to the harried cashier at the supermarket, that’s an easy way to offer a piece of ourselves. The adage, “It’s better to give than to receive” is truth; when we share with others, we are truly reaping the benefits. It feels good to give!
I spoke with Randi Shubin Dresner, President and CEO of Island Harvest, while my husband unloaded boxes with the countless volunteers from BFCU and Island Harvest. At 6 p.m., there were 1,200 turkeys donated, as well as 12,000 pounds of nonperishable food items. One gentleman donated 80 turkeys in memory of his wife; some brought one turkey, others brought several. Many employees of BFCU also donated turkeys; BFCU interim CEO Wayne Grosse said that he couldn’t have been prouder of his staff. B103 was on site to spin tunes and a tent was set up nearby for respite, with hot beverages and information about how to help Island Harvest. I’m so grateful to have been a part of the event.
Although the BFCU turkey drive is over, there are a number of ways that you can help. There are 316,000 Long Islanders in need this year; 110,000 are children. 70,000 Long Islanders use food pantries and soup kitchens daily. For more information, visit www.islandharvest.org.
