Veronica's Blog

Mar 31

One of the things I most admire about the Trailblazers franchise is the ongoing commitment to service. It's a privilege to be part of an organization that makes giving an active component of everyday operations. In this time of extreme need and global crisis it can be the little things we do to make the difference in the lives of those around us.

When I was 7 may family moved to Johannesburg, South Africa and that experience left a lasting impression on my heart. My parents would take us to volunteer with them frequently and see how people were living around us. My mother, now a retired news reporter, when permissible would take us on some of her assignments to keep us conscious. My father was a West Indian Cricketer and developed training camps for youth throughout Africa in the townships to shift the balance of equality and empower young people to dream, set goals and develop the tools needed to make those dreams reality. Whether it was playing with children my age affected with HIV/Aids or serving water and fruit to the training youth in my father's clinics my participation made a difference to them. The cost to me was minimal but the gain from those experiences over the course of our seven years there were priceless.

Donations come in many forms. You can donate money, school supplies, clothes and more! But your time and active service foster lasting relationships and memories. Mentor a young person or donate your skills or services to an organization that serves your community. Pack food at the food bank or read to patients in hospice care centers, hospitals, or retirement homes. For those of you looking to give whether on a global scale or locally it can be as simple as being a regular blood donor. You can even donate in the name of someone you know to lower their costs and ensure they are provided for.

If you're healthy and able GIVE!! It serves strangers and those you love. Most centers only have a few days worth of blood to supply in emergency situations. Save a life, it only takes a few minutes of your time. In the grand scheme of things it can give someone a lifetime. 

Remember it's the little things that often matter most.
~Veronica