Charity is more than just Giving
This weekend my mother's foundation will host our 2nd Annual Trick-or-Treat Happy Hour where we pass out treat bags for children in the community. Last year we passed out over 100 treat bags and this year we could pass out nearly 200 treat bags. It was fun passing out candy and viewing all the different costumes. As much as my mother loved children she would have been so happy to see the kids have a good time.
Last Halloween my son and his father helped me pass out treat bags and this wasn't easy in the beginning. At the time he was 4 and I was pregnant my daughter. It was hard looking at so much candy while pregnant because I had morning sickness all the time yet on the other hand my son thought he was in heaven. We gave out over 75 lbs of candy and I didn't want to see anymore for a long time. My son was happy in the end not just because he got a treat bag for his efforts (lol) but because he knew he was doing it for "Grandma Nancy."
This year we have a new set of little hands to help out (well she'll just look at people strange and look cute in her pink leopard costume) from baby Gabi now 7 months. I know my mother would have not been happy to learn of me having a second since she wasn't happy the first time around. She loved her grandson like he was her own and would have loved her granddaughter just as much.
In a week it will be 4 years since my mom passed away and since I'm an only child who has recently started looking for my "unknown" father sharing my mother's memory has become a full time job. I started the foundation to keep my mother's memory close, to remember her best qualities and carry on what we would have done together. When she passed away I was afraid that I may forget things about her. I miss being able to see and talk to her everyday and how happy she was spoiling her grandson.
Her grandchildren will learn about her most likely through her charity. My mother volunteered in the community at a young age and I look at her award certificates as inspiration. I enjoyed vounteering when I was going up at various events and other organizations in the community. My little ones have gotten an early start on volunteering thanks to their grandma.
One of the most important things the kids will learn about their grandmother was how caring she was and had so much love to give. As they get older they'll learn that this charity to them is much more than just giving.
