Compassion

The purpose of human life is to serve and to show compassion and the will to help others

-Albert Schweitzer

How does one create a sense of charitable kindness in children?  How can kids appreciate what they have without ever experiencing those that have not?  In today's world I believe it is much more challenging.  It is not, however, impossible.

There is a fantastic organization geared towards mentoring children called Kids Korps.  They are a service organization with a mission to develop leaders via volunteerism.  A child may participate in as many or as few activities as they wish.  These activities open up their "world."


Years ago, the first activity we chose to attend was a collaborative effort to stuff thousands of bags with items used for children  rescued from abusive or neglectful homes--terrible situations.  According to the law enforcement officials present that day, these kids often don't have more than the shirts on their backs when they are rescued and removed from their homes.  A community effort stuffed toiletries, coloring books/crayons, homemade blankets, books, stuffed animals and other essentials.  Grant asked many "but why?" questions that day. It was a quintessential day in teaching compassion to my son.  I could not stop tearing up as I thought about each bag and each child.

Other activities of importance were feeding senior citizens, serving meals to the homeless and planting trees in impoverished neighborhoods





Thanks to the opportunities via Kids Korps my hope is for Grant to maintain a lifelong desire of service to others and compassion for those less fortunate.