Charity

I always tell myself that I'm going to keep up with this, I think I need to start marking my calendar to blog every Sunday or something.

These last few weeks have been a blur, it's busy season at work and needless to say I'm exhausted. Working 10-15 hrs of overtime a week will do that to you I guess... But you know what, every time I feel like complaining, reality always swoops in reminding me just how blessed I am. 

I was on a mission to find a charity for the month of July that did something amazing for veterans, that I could present to our committee and really make a difference... I did some digging and found this amazing organization called the WNY Veterans Housing Coalition. Founded over 25 years ago, the VHC has helped over 15,000 homeless veterans in WNY get their benefits, get jobs, find housing and health care. 

After meeting with the operations manager, getting a tour and listening to Celia tell me why it is so important to her to do what she does... I fell in Love, and when she hugged me after our meeting and told me it was fate, I cried. Celia had been hoping someone like me would come her way, but the truth is I'd been looking for someone like her, for a group like hers. 

I honestly like my job, I love my coworkers and I make a decent living... But being on the charity committee, being able to actually make a difference, to see real results, that is what makes me feel alive. All my life I've grown up around charity, and I've always felt a calling to helping people... It's just so hard to make a living at the same time, working for United has allowed me to do both in the most beautiful way, for that I am so grateful. 

We are pulling out all the stops for this group in July and I am so excited... I'm apologizing ahead of time for all the social media blasts in the near future asking you to clean our your closets and pantries if you're so inclined. Our brave men and women deserve the world for what they are willing to give up for you and I. The horrifying statistic that so many of them find themselves homeless, without a job, proper clothing or even just a friend is heart breaking... 

I have the greatest friends in the world, and although I don't get to see them as much as I like... I'm so very grateful. I have a home, I have a good job, I am healthy, and I have Love. Getting a tour of a homeless shelter, hearing how the operations manager is someone's next of kin, makes any complaint I had about the weather or traffic just seem ridiculous. 

There is always something to be grateful for... Please don't forget that.