She had a theme of experiencing joy. She showed a family reunited after the genocide in Rwanda. She said the happiest she ever was, when she and her team decided to gift all these children in Africa. I believe it was in South Africa. Oprah helped pick out black dolls for the little girls. There were soccer balls and other things for the boys. Then there was a box for each child, labeled with their name, with about 10 pieces of clothing for them. The clothing gave the children the greatest joy.
Maybe we get jaded and think one gift can't make that much difference to a stranger? Oprah remembers being about age 10 and a knock on the door at midnight. There were three nuns with gifts for them, a cooked turkey and food. Imagine nuns being up that late! She grew up very poor of course and the gifts made a huge difference.
I did foster care for 9 years total and was a foster care social worker for 2 years. The children that I remember as being the most excited about new clothing were ones in respite care. After all, once a child goes into foster care the county gives the foster parent some money to buy the bare bones of a wardrobe. The children in respite care live with their parents. I asked the local sewing machine store to put an 'ad' in their newsletter they mailed out. I asked if people would make up that extra fabric and bring it to the store for kids in need. I was surprised one day when they called and said they had a grocery bag full of newly sewn clothing.
I called some of the respite foster parents in my group asking who needed clothes. One had several children coming that weekend and asked me to come over. There was a little boy about 4 years old that was quite "raggedy". I didn't have anything small enough for him. I was pawing through the bag and took out this sweatshirt with a kangaroo pocket in color blocking. He wanted to try it on. It was several sizes too big. I said, it's too big and reached for it. He said "NO!" and grabbed on tight. So I let him keep it.
We have a large population of refugees that have recently come from refugee camps in Myanmar and Nepal. There is a huge apartment complex full of them, all newly arrived here. I was volunteering to tutor English with one family that my church agreed to sponsor. When I would go over there, I'd see little boys in shoes 3 sizes too big with Princess designs on them. Lots of kids in bare feet in October and November. While I searched for some winter clothes for the 3 year old on craigslist, I was able to get 3 large leaf bags of children's clothing and shoes from craigslist.
I went over there alone and opened up the back of my Tahoe. I felt like I was selling hot stuff out of it! I'd ask the kids, do you need a sweater? They recognized me from being over there. I was soon mobbed! Two little girls pushed past me and into the back of my Tahoe. I was upset! I told them to get out and that I wouldn't give them anything if they did that, and grabbed back what they had helped themselves to. I put the shoes for the 3 year old aside at my feet. Soon I had parents and grandparents pointing to a child and communicating that this child needed something. The clothes I had were all from one family of two young kids so I had nothing for kids over age 8 or so. I was sad for the kids that I couldn't help but happy that these clothes stretched pretty far. I looked down at my feet and those two girls had stolen back the shoes meant for the 3 year old.
These kids were very excited and desperate to get used clothing. When I was done, I went into the apartment of the family I was tutoring and said nothing about it. A month later they had some friends join us for the tutoring. They were speaking in their language and laughing and laughing. After awhile, I asked what they were laughing about. Sure enough it was me! They had been looking out the window that day when I was giving away those clothes. They were telling their friends about the scene.
So many families are in need. I would like to make some dolls for Christmas gifts for kids. I need to make many of my family gifts. I think I better start making better use of my time if I'm to get much done!
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