Make a card and make a difference.
Would you put a smile on someone’s face if you could? Would you do it even if you didn’t know that random ‘someone’? If it was a person you’re unlikely ever to meet?
At this time of year there are 100s, possibly 1000s, of teenagers living in youth, detention, and holding centres. For various reasons, they’re not able to be with their families or friends and through poor choice or circumstance they are doing it tough. One can only imagine the conditions they’re living under and the difficulties they have to put up with, away from those who know and love them the most. It’s doubly hard during this time of the year when we’re surrounded by images of happy families and the abundance of the season.
Last week Frau Anderson got an e-mail from a friend which read:
What you can do for 888 kids locked up in Australia. SEND CARDS – big cards, small cards, home-made and purchased cards to these children and teenagers telling them that they are not forgotten…
When I told the 7C and 7D homegroups about this they decided to do something about it. They wanted to make a difference in these young people’s lives, even if it was in a small and seemingly distant way.
They busily cut and glued and decorated and created cards with messages of hope and goodwill which will be sent to these young people to let them know that someone somewhere is thinking about them and more importantly, to say that someone cares about them.
I want to share some of the messages and sentiments they wrote:
To a friend who’s spending X-Mas alone.
I hope this year my card puts a smile on your face.
I’m sorry to hear you’ll spend X-Mas without your family.
…hope you like this small gift of mine!
I’m thinking of you even though I don’t know you.
So while we all count our blessings and are fortunate to be surrounded by good cheer and loved ones this Christmas season, spare a thought for those who aren’t as lucky, but who may be smiling because of little random acts of kindness. In a very small way it will certainly make a difference to their day.
Have a safe & well earned break, everyone!
Yours in fun & creativity,
Mrs. Pam Athanasakis.
Text & photos courtesy of Pam Athanasakis.
