A Valentine’s Day Special

I love my Valentine in more ways than one. Volunteering and giving are among her ways. While it is easy to give to people like us around us, giving to those in need sometimes requires patience and perseverance. Occasionally, a Burger King restaurant or an aloe plant become a part of the story.

Violet has volunteered at our local retirement community for many years. The community has both independent residences and facilities for assisted living. While most residents are wealthy, the employees who serve their numerous needs are not as wealthy.

One thing that happens in retirement communities, pandemic or not, is that residents pass away regularly! Often, their families donate large items that volunteers like Violet offer to individual employees for small sums, with the collections going to serve the common community good.

Violet tries to find people on the poorer end of the employment hierarchy to give and it is not easy. On one occasion, she had set up an appointment for someone to pick up a complete dining set with six chairs at a residence for $20. After waiting a few minutes, she learnt that their brother-in-law was unavailable to help and they needed to reschedule. At the next appointed time, they called her to say that their family had stopped at a Burger King for an early dinner and would be an hour late. When you are hungry, dining can’t wait, but the table can. Finally when they arrived, they had only a $10 bill. Violet filled the shortfall so they could have the table and a few other items. That is just the story of her offering one dining table at one residence.

Today it is time to give away our flower pots. Violet has posted pictures at a social media site for people to select pots of their choice. After much communication and coordination, many come to collect at appointed times. When one arrived and asked to take an unclaimed pot or two, Violet had no hesitation. Except they had been claimed. To make amends, she has offered the next person an aloe plant. I hope it heals.

Happy Valentine’s Day! Wish you plenty of loving and giving.