Meet Our Youngest Donor
He may be small in stature but he has the heart of a giant and a maturity beyond his years. 5 years that is! At first glance Isaac reminds you of any typical 5 year old, interested in bugs, swimming in his pool and shooting hoops in his backyard. But when you talk to Isaac and “experience” him you know that this little boy is truly special.
When I arrived to meet Isaac he presented me with a gift bag filled with treasures. With a questioning glance to his Mom she assured me that it was ok, they really were for me. She explained that Isaac insists that anyone visiting their home for the first time is always given a gift and when Isaac visits someone for the first time he always brings them a gift. Humbled by his generosity and thoughtfulness I quickly dug into the bag to find a stuffed teddy bear, a sea shell filled with gem stones and a Christmas tree ornament engraved with the word “faith” across the front. With Isaac at my side he excitedly told me that each gift was chosen carefully just for me. The teddy bear was to keep me company on my ride home because he knew I had driven a long way. The sea shell and gem stones were because they were pretty and the ornament was to remind me that “faith” is important. I was moved beyond words to think that this small child was giving me some of his treasured items and because he had so carefully and lovingly thought them through. When I complimented Isaac’s Mom for obviously setting such a wonderful example and instilling such fine qualities in her son, she agreed that she and her husband work hard to teach their children to be kind and giving to others. But, she was quick to add, “Isaac has always taken his generosity and kindness to another level. Not a day goes by that he doesn’t teach us something about the true meaning of giving.” And that “other” level is what Care For Others has experienced.
While Isaac may not grasp the magnitude of need that people are experiencing with the economy and increased prices, he certainly has a grasp on what it means to help others in need.
Last year as Isaac’s Dad was getting ready to attend our fundraiser Isaac asked him where he was going. As he explained simply that he was going to a party to raise money to help people who needed their help, Isaac told him to wait a minute. Quickly he ran to his room and reappeared with 4 bags of pennies. 32 pennies to be exact. He told his Dad to bring them to the party and give them to the people who really needed them. When I asked Isaac where he came up with the idea to donate his pennies he just shrugged and said, “I don’t know, I just like to do nice things for people.”
Well in May Isaac did something else nice for Care For Others and the people we help. While his parents planned a garage sale, Isaac came up with his own plan. He would sell lemonade and cookies and donate the proceeds to Care For Others. Isaac and his Dad made a banner and set up a table out front. On that sunny after noon business was good and Isaac proved quite the salesman. He raised $28. While Isaac was proud of his accomplishment that day and we were too, he wasn’t satisfied. He asked his Mom if she had any big jars. Those jars now adorn the dining room table where all pennies are deposited. When the jars are full and the time is right Isaac plans to donate them too. “Maybe Halloween”, he says, because he always gets lots of pennies when he trick-or-treats.
While Isaac may not grasp the magnitude of need that people are experiencing with the economy and increased prices, he certainly has a grasp on what it means to help others in need. His donation in pennies, no matter how small, is testament to his big heart. Thinking of Isaac’s example, Care For Others is asking you to consider taking your generosity to the next level. Make a donation today so we can help someone else tomorrow.
By Laura DiLella, founder and volunteer at Care For Others
