You know that feeling you get when you’re just about to give someone a gift that you know they’ll love? They carefully inspect the package, give it a gentle shake, and wrinkle their nose as they try to guess what it could possibly be. You giggle in anticipation. If they don’t open it soon, you will be forced to rip the paper off for them. They carefully lift the tape from the packaging and remove the box lid, but your eyes are fixed on their reaction. And in a split second, all of the squirming, the countless hours, dollars, and brain power you spent searching for the gift are all suddenly worth it just by seeing the look on their face.
Now take that feeling and multiply it by 100. A couple of months ago, I went to the scene of a local house fire with one of our Disaster Action Team (DAT) members. I stepped out of the car and could still smell the smoke. Caution tape surrounded the burnt rubble which one family used to call home. I couldn’t figure out why the children were running around in dress clothes until I heard the father say, “Don’t get dirty. Those are the only clothes you have left.”
Imagine handing that child a gift. I didn’t spend weeks picking it out. In fact, it wasn’t even wrapped with paper or a bow. But to see the look on that child’s face as I handed him a stuffed Mickey Mouse- to be knocked to the ground by the biggest most genuine hug I’ve ever received- to hear his little voice say thank you and mean it. Now that is gift-giving.
It’s amazing how a small gesture, something so basic, can become something much larger. How in this instance, a Mickey Mouse was transformed into a gift a hope, a gift that saved the day.
This holiday season, the American Red Cross is giving you the opportunity to give gifts that save the day in your community, across the country, and around the world. By choosing an item from our
Holiday Giving Catalog, you will honor your loved ones with the perfect holiday present
and give the gift of hope to someone who needs it most when disaster strikes.
Beginning tomorrow and running through December 12
th, The St. Louis Area Chapter is making it easy for you to save the day by highlighting gift-giving options from the
Holiday Giving Catalog. During our
12 Days of Giving we will bring you 12 unique stories of hope and 12 ways to give a gift that supports the lifesaving mission of the Red Cross.
In the meantime, -because I’m giggling in anticipation and wanting to rip the “paper” off for you- check out the Holiday Giving Catalog
here and stay tuned for our
12 Days of Giving!
Lindsey
Lindsey Weber is the Marketing and Communication Associate for the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter.