50s | My First Material Support Activity | The Story of Supporting WORLD GIFT🌍️
There was something that had been on my mind for a long time.
That is
international cooperation in the form of "material support".
Even before I retired, I looked at various websites many times and thought, "I want to do this someday."
However, although it was on my mind, I couldn't quite bring myself to take action.
That is why I, who had been like that, finally took a step forward this time.
The person who pushed me forward,
a mom friend I respect
The reason I was finally able to take a step forward this time was because of my daughter's friend's mother.
She is a mom friend whom I deeply respect.
She is someone who thinks, decides, and acts based on her own will.
She also continues to donate her hair (hair donation), and she always leaves a dignified impression.
To be honest,
she has many things that I lack, and I feel something close to admiration for her.
I heard from her that sheis supporting through "WORLD GIFT".
Now that I have a little more room in my life and my heart, I thought, "If I'm going to do it, now is the time," and decided to send something for the first time.
Packing my second son's memories
full into a box
What I mainly sent this time were my second son's belongings.
Clothes he no longer wears
Stuffed animals won from UFO catchers
Pokemon cards (a large amount, including my eldest son's)
Hiragana study materials
And other miscellaneous items. I made sure to sun-dry the stuffed animals thoroughly in the garden before sending them.
The toys that my second son got tired of and left in the corner of the room look a bit happy in the sun.
They look a bit happy in the sun.
They look a bit happy in the sun.
When I said, "You used to wear these clothes a lot," or "Shall we try the letter and number board to practice hiragana again?"
my third-grade second son replied,
"No, I can already write!"
While having that conversation,
I put them into the box one by one.
Things that are still usable but no longer have a place in our home.
I hope someone else will use them with care.
Thinking that, I filled the box to the brim.
Saying goodbye to the stuffed animals and
my second son's reaction
When it was time to say goodbye to the stuffed animals,
my second son looked a little sad.
Even though he rarely played with them and they were just piled up.
I only put in the items he chose and decided he didn't need, but I guess it makes you feel a little sad when you realize they are really going to someone else.
So I said,
"I'm sure they'll be used with care,"
"If there's a child who doesn't have any stuffed animals but wants one, they'll be so happy, right?"
Then my second son smiled and
"That's true!"he agreed.
His expression even looked a little refreshed.
Rather than just letting go of things,
the thought that "someone else might cherish them more than I did"
might have made him happy too.
After sending the package,
the message I received
A while after I sent the package, I received a personal message from WORLD GIFT with a photo.
Thank you for your support.
This is NPO WORLD GIFT.
Thank you very much for providing valuable supplies to our organization the other day. We have received many voices from the field saying, "We want to convey our gratitude to everyone in Japan."
With that sentiment, the children sent us photos holding "THANK YOU" message signs this time.
This does not mean that these are the specific supplies you sent, but it is one of the "feelings of gratitude" that naturally arose from the field. We hope you will accept it warmly.
Of course, I don't know where, by whom, or how the items I sent are being used.
Even so,
“They might be helping someone, somewhere.”
Just being able to think that way
strangely made me feel brighter.
When I showed the message to my second son, he looked happy and said,
“I'm glad you sent them!”
Hearing those words, I felt glad that I had tried this.
Rather than “believing or not believing,”
it's about whether you can be convinced yourself.
When you look into material support,
various opinions and reviews come up.
I myself used to look at those and
wondered,
“Is it really okay to send them?”
The reason I chose WORLD GIFT this time is because
a mom friend I trust had actually used it
I looked into it myself and was able to be convinced in my own way
It was because of these two things.
Not because someone else says it's “good.”
Choose a place you can be convinced of after researching it yourself.
I think that is important precisely because it is support.
Even if I can't do anything big
I cannot do
anything big.
But, there is a possibility that the “things I no longer use” in my house won't just be thrown away, but used by someone somewhere.
If that's the case, there is something I can do.
I am still setting aside items little by little to send next time.
Once I have a certain amount,
I intend to send them again.
What I felt after trying this was
There is a slight difference in how I feel between just thinking 'I want to do something' and actually having done it once
That is what it was like.
It was just a tiny step, but
'I want to continue doing something within my means from now on'
That kind of feeling is coming to me more naturally than before.
いいなと思ったら応援しよう！
ここまで読んで頂きありがとうございます。
この発信が誰かの一歩につながっていたら嬉しいです。
頂いたチップはこれから前に進むための『学び』に使わせていただきます。