Hi!  My name is Clare.

I like to help people at school by taking my kindergarten neighbor Olivia to her classroom. Another way I like to help at school is by helping people when they get hurt. I like to help them by giving them ideas of what they should do. For an example telling them that they should go to the office.

Some more ways I like to help at school is by holding the doors and getting stuff out of the printer for the teachers. Another place I like to help is at St. Vincent Table. St. Vincent Table is at my church and we pass out food to the poor people. I like to cut and put desserts into containers. I also like to help set up tables for the people who eat at the hall. Another way I like to help there is by carrying out food to the people who are picking the meals up. I even serve the drinks. I love that job! You can help to just go to Braidwood IL School St the Immaculate Conception Church in the hall every Monday night.

I also like to help at home. I like to help my brother Ben with the chickens and ducks at night. I even help with my guinea pigs Pebbles and Brownie. I like to feed them and clean their cage. I also like to help clean the dishes and help cook.

Those are the ways I like to help. You can help too.

Clare selected Just Animals to receive a grant of $1,000.

Helping others is fun.  One way that I help in my community is by opening doors at stores for people.  I also put back grocery carts in the parking lots. I mow the lawn and do yard work for my grandma and an elderly friend at church.  I like to feed our neighbors’ cats when they are gone on vacation.  I am also a server at Mass on Sundays at Immaculate Conception in Braidwood.  I help set up for events at church. At home, I feed and take care of our chickens and ducks.  I enjoy helping others because it makes them happy.

Ben selected We Care of Grundy County to receive a grant of $500.

The Importance of Giving and Volunteering

Have you ever thought about how important it is to give and volunteer? It sounds weird but it's actually pretty cool. Giving could mean anything from donating things like money, clothes, or food to others who need it. Volunteering means giving your time and energy to help others. Both are very important because they make the world a better place. If nobody ever did anything to brighten others' days the world would be a much worse place to live in. If you see somebody elderly walking into a store hold the door open for them it's that simple. When you give, you’re helping people who might not have enough money or resources. Maybe you’re donating food to a family who cannot afford groceries, or maybe you’re giving money to a charity that helps people with disabilities. When you volunteer, you are giving your time to help others. Giving and volunteering are also important because they make you feel good. You know that you’re making a difference in someone's life, and that is a really cool feeling. Plus, when you give and volunteer, you’re showing others that you care about them. You’re making a positive impact on the world! So, if you want to make a difference in the world, try giving and volunteering! You don’t have to be rich or famous to make a difference. Even small donations or a few hours of volunteering can help someone in need. Let’s all work together to make the world a better place!

Milo selected the Grundy County Veterans Assistance Commission to receive a grant of $1,000.

The Importance of Giving and Volunteering

Leo Buscaglia, an American author and speaker once said “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” These words are why I believe it is important to volunteer, give, and be kind to others. Giving back to our community is an exceptional way to not only feel good about ourselves, but our actions could also make a positive difference in another person's life. I believe that we have been blessed to be here, living and breathing on this Earth and experiencing all that it has to offer, and I think the best way to make the most of this opportunity is by giving to others. Volunteering and giving are important for the well-being of yourself, the planet, and other people. It is something that contributes to a happy life for everyone involved and can also allow you the opportunity to learn essential life skills, and there is a joy to giving that nothing else in this world can come close to, no amount of money or possessions can bring more joy than the knowledge that you helped another person. For these reasons, I believe that it is important that we all take the time to volunteer, give back, and be kind to one another - because wouldn't it be worth it if your action could make a difference?

Evelyn selected Just Animals to receive a grant of $500.

Everyone who is reading this essay is alive. Some may be more fortunate than others, but nonetheless, hearts are beating and lungs are functioning at this very second all over the world. One of the only experiences that has been shared by all eight point one billion people who currently live on Earth is being a baby. Children, especially babies, are vulnerable and need a lot of care that comes at an expense. Imagine being a woman who is pregnant, carrying this life inside you that you do not have the resources to take care of.

This is where Living Alternatives Pregnancy Resource Center comes into play. Here women can get the help they need in a variety of ways. Their team of medical professionals offer pregnancy tests and ultrasounds, while others ensure new parents are getting the support, training, and help needed to raise a child. Living Alternatives H.O.P.E. (Helping Others Parent through Education) program helps not only mothers and fathers to learn parenting skills, but also offers opportunities for new parents to get the supplies and equipment they will need to raise a child. Through earning their “Baby Bucks”, new parents are able to get diapers, clothes, and other supplies that are essential to baby care. Even after the child is born, Living Alternatives helps support babies and parents through the first eighteen months of life.

Unfortunately, sometimes the joy of pregnancy results in a tragic loss. Through Willow Story, Living Alternatives offers perinatal grief support for parents who have lost their child or have been given a prenatal diagnosis. Through this program, parents are given compassion and support, along with help to remember the life of their child. Living Alternatives also gives care to women who have suffered another kind of loss, abortion. Many women are scarred by the memories of an abortion and Living Alternatives offers counseling and mentorship to help women and men continue on their journey and reclaim wounded parts of their past. Through all the care and support they offer, Living Alternatives assists in the most vulnerable times of life.

I believe that Living Alternatives is important to Grundy County because of the care they offer to men and women in need, along with their born and unborn children. As the old proverb says, “It takes a village to raise a child.” This non-profit organization in our “village” of Grundy County does an amazing job not only providing resources and support to mothers and fathers who need help to raise their child, but also being there through the tragedy of loss to support these parents through hard times. Through the resources and support from Living Alternatives Pregnancy Resource Center, new parents can help ensure the newest members of our community the chance to succeed as infants but also to have a strong base to build the rest of their lives.

Grace selected Living Alternatives to receive a grant of $1,000.

Shan selected Operation St. Nick to receive a grant of $500.