This past fall several of the National American Miss Oregon queens took part in the Susan G. Komen walk for the cure. I am so proud of these kids! In a time when none of us have free time, these outstanding young people took time to contribute, to give back, to do something for someone else.
I encourge you to take this time to find something you are passionate about. A cause that you can get behind, something that is near and dear to your heart. Maybe its autism awareness, maybe its the make-a-wish foundation. Whatever it is, get involved, make a difference.
A friend reminded me of a quote this week that always makes me pause and think. “You must be the change that you wish to see in the world.” ~Gandhi.
Matt
How nice to see what the Oregon Queens are doing for their community! What a good cause! Our VERY VERY VERY favorite part of NAM is the volunteer work we are blessed to be able to do! If Olivia stopped doing NAM today, I can honestly say, along with the skills she has learned through stage, etc. she has developed a lifelong love of getting out there and getting involved in organizations she loves and has a passion for (and there are many…..she wears us out!)
BUT……I have seen many kids get that spark in their eyes when they hear about what she has done. So it is not just something we keep to ourselves, but want others to love to!
COOL! Olivia loves to encourage other kids to get involved ,too!
For instance, this year at our 3rd annual wish list drive for the Ronald McDonald House (we raised $850 and TONS of food for the Family room! YEAH! ) we have at our house, we saw signs in our neighborhood saying during our community yard sale that SOMEONE else was having a Yard Sale ,too, for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (we walk and work for them every year,too-great cause!! ) HOW COOL IS THAT???? and they made almost as much money as we did!
SO we do this every year at our house, with Brooke Groff and her family (something Olivia asked to do when she was younger for the RMH) and when I told them another family was doing this just like us, all the kids WERE SO EXCITED! It was cool to see another group of kids one street over making a difference too, and they said it was because they thought what our kids did last year was really neat and encouraged them!
ALSO, I teach 3rd graders MISSIONS on Wed. night at church. LONG story short, Olivia started this program called HUGS-help us give shoes , for the kids in the Appal. Mountains. She got all the mission kids involved, and excited, and we collected over 600 shoes in 3 weeks! It was the most amazing thing to see all the girls/boys thinking of all the things THEY could do, just like HUGS! They were getting some serious ideas! They even made a VOLUNTEER cheer in my class! HAHA! V-O…..volunteer just do it! Complete with cartwheels and everything.
It is amazing what we can do when we get out there AND DO IT! ALSO, it is even better when you know you are teaching others how much fun it can be, and what they will get out of it when they do ,too! Again, GREAT JOB OREGON GIRLS!!!!!! YOu rock!
(sorry…..I get a LITTLE excited talking about my kids’ volunteer work!:)
Jennifer
Olivia’s mom ,Jr. Preteen from TN