to give is to get
i work at a youth leadership camp. every day I'm surprised by how smart and resilient children are. they are told their whole youth that they are just kids but they experience not so childish things. I've had kids come to camp crying because they slept on the street, some kids come hungry and some kids come from a physically abusive household. kids don't get to be kids. they tell me about themselves and their life outside of camp and I get physically sick. one time, a kid comes up to me and asked if he can eat his lunch in the gym instead of the food hall with the other kids. i knew something was wrong but I said yes anyway. so all the other kids went to the food hall and I stayed with him and he pulls out a half-eaten sandwich from yesterday because he saved some for today because he knew his mom wont give him any more food because she doesn't have enough for the rest of his siblings. he was only able to eat half yesterday and save the rest for the next day. he was embarrassed and I started to cry. so I went on skip the dishes as quickly as possible and I ordered us this huge meal from Mcdonalds. i felt guilty because of the privileges i had growing up. and then i thought, how many other kids are also hungry? so i started a "brunch club". so i went 2 hours early to work everyday, which was typically 5 am, and i would get to cooking. the kids were able to get breakfast before camp started and then i would leave the gym early and start to cook for lunch. we gave veg and non veg, and dairy free and gluten free options. the joy on these kids faces was breathtaking. then eventually, the founder of the camp found out we were doing this and started a foundation so we can do this at every camp. he was impressed with what i was doing but all i was able to think about was that little boys face when he pulled out half of a sandwich. he later had to drop out of camp because it was too expensive for his mother to pay for. so after that, we took half the donations from the brunch club and put it towards an "all-star" foundation. this foundation chose children from previous weeks of camp and brought them back for one more week for free. he was chosen by me. he came back and gave me the biggest hug possible and i broke down in tears. its easy to get lost in what you have. sometimes, listening is enough. i gave that boy hope and he gave me purpose. to give is to get.