Joy In Giving Campaign For 2014

The Best And The Worst Of 2013

2013 is a year of many events. The worst, the best, the most tragic, the most inspiring, the most heroic, the saddest, the most joyful and triumphant of spirit. It is a year of giving and caring, of people uniting in moments of misery and devastation. It is a year of hope and hanging on to faith. To believe once more in everyday miracles and the capacity for human goodness.

Joy In Giving Campaign For 2014

A woman was sitting next to her typhoon-torn house. A question, “What will I feed my family for Christmas?” was written all over her worried face. From out of nowhere, two hands with a basket full of holiday food reached out from a car window. The woman inside the car simply said, “Maligayang Pasko po, manang, ” which meant “Merry Christmas, ma’am.” The woman with the worried face looked at her in complete disbelief as she accepted the gift. What followed next was a smile of truest joy and gratitude. Christmas came in its purest form to the worried woman and her family that day. Her smile and reaction to a random act of selfless kindness was but one of the hundreds that day. The same very smile that will inspire so many to keep giving and sharing for many years to come.

On her 45th Birthday, a friend made a wish. Her wish was to bring joy, comfort and sense of dignity for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan. She created a community in ShelterBox called “Bangon Pilipinas” which translates to “Rise Philippines,” with a goal to raise $10,000. So far, with the help of generous family, friends and kind-hearted strangers, she raised $8,000 that became a gift of hope and comfort for so many in the typhoon ravaged areas of the Philippines. Her story and the millions of new day heroes inspired me to start the New Year with the “Joy In Giving” campaign.

Faces Of Joy

There are times when words don’t do justice to what real joy feels like. It is something we feel from within and during unguarded moments becomes so transparent through our eyes and facial expressions.

On his way home, pulling his Carabao or Water Bufallo behind him, a man stood startled and surprised when a stranger from out of nowhere just handed him a basket for his “Nuche Buene” or Christmas dinner. The joy on his face, totally transparent and priceless!

My Wish For 2014

Today, I made a commitment to support ShelterBox and other donation agencies that seeks to help the countless victims of calamities and other forms of suffering. Instead of making a list of New Year’s resolution about me, I hope to create a New Year goal that involves helping others in need. My wish? That my blogger community and those who read this post will share my dream for 2014 and the years to come. That they too will embrace a charity they are passionate about, spread its mission and be a part of the new day heroes for human and animal kindness.

Everyone went home smiling with the true meaning of Christmas burning in their hearts. That day, someone answered their wish and prayer. That day, a Christmas miracle came knocking at their door and renewed their faith in other people. That day, the “Joy in Giving” campaign has began and became a reality for them.

One Dollar, One Dream, One Life 

“The cost of a 2 liters Coca Cola soda, $1.50. Cost of a Grande Starbucks brewed coffee, $1.65. Cost of Big Mac burger, $3.20. Cost to sustain life, $1.00.”

There is power in numbers. What may be a not so significant $1.00 to one person can become a potential life changing $10,000 or more for others when a great number of people come together as one heart united to share one cause and one purpose.

As we welcome 2014, let us take a moment to reflect on the many blessings, lessons and events of 2013. So many of them change our perspective in life and the world around us. So many of them altered and changed our lives in ways we never dreamt possible. In all, we are grateful that we are alive and well, surrounded by people we love.

10, 9, 8….3, 2, 1…Happy New Year!

For those who want to join the Joy In Giving Campaign community, create a post about the cause and charity you wish to share. Link this post and add in your tag Joy In Giving Campaign For 2014. As part of this community, we will strive to support and help each other in whatever way we can.

Related articles

• ShelterBox in the Philippines (mapsworldwideblog.com)
• Typhoon Haiyan Relief (missbamboo.wordpress.com)
• Bangon Pilipinas (arlene1956.wordpress.com)
• The Joy of New Beginnings (mindbodyspiritacademy.org)
• Joy (justimaginecrafts.typepad.com)
• The Seventh Day of Christmas: JOY (tessross.wordpress.com)
• Joy To Your World (christyrawls.com)
• Shelterbox Responds to Philippines Tragedy (aaronmcdonaldjournalism.wordpress.com)
• Merry Christmas aound a Happy New Year 2014 (htnsl.wordpress.com)
• Perspective for the New Year…Enter 2014 with J.O.Y. (and2makescrazy.wordpress.com)
• Weekly Photo Challenge: Joy (tiffanymetzger.wordpress.com)
• The joy of giving (mumturnedmom.wordpress.com)
• The Joy of Christmas Giving//part 1 {For My Soldier} (graciebear.wordpress.com)
• I Feel Joy (nenskeifacestheworld.wordpress.com)
• The Joy Is in the Giving (lynnbarrette.wordpress.com)
• Comfort and joy? (carerwithattitudeuk.wordpress.com)
• Christmas 2013 and Typhoon Haiyan (keiragracephotography.wordpress.com)
• Weekly Photo Challenge: Joy (elisapompili.wordpress.com)
• Hope And Tenderness For 2014
• Casey Neistat Spent $25,000 of 20th Century Fox’s Money On Philippine Typhoon Relief