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Grocery Shopping Helper for Those In Need

I remember at the end of March, hearing about how quickly the coronavirus (COVID-19) was spreading throughout Europe, especially in Italy- how a lockdown was the only way they could manage the dire circumstances their country was facing due to a late response to the infection rate of their citizens. At the time, it seemed unreal: a lockdown due to a virus, in this day and age?

When I got to work, the morning news spread that the lockdown was happening in Italy, I told my boss what I had read and his first question to me was, “Are you afraid?” Truthfully, I wasn’t- I’m not.

That same week, on a Friday, the first post at the top of my Facebook feed included a video taken by a Costco employee, her caption including the term “panic buying” (over toilet paper). Panic buying? You mean that scene in those apocalyptic movies when everyone rushes into the store to grab everything off the shelves in a frenzy? No way. I could not believe the way people were reacting out of fear that they would be locked in their homes, for what we thought (at the time) would only be a couple of weeks.

The following week after watching that video, reading news articles about stores running out of supplies, the number of active COVID-19 cases rapidly increasing throughout our province, our country, around the world: the weight of the reality that this was the new ‘normal’ finally set in. However, none of it felt as close as it should have, because it had not touched anyone I know, had not affected me personally or to a point that could shock me.

The first week into self-isolation (all non-essential workers to stay home or work from home, by law) was difficult. All I could see on my social feeds were people posting ‘challenges’ to their stories, tagging each other in DIY projects and food recipe posts, going through old photos, and a huge case of cabin fever developing. Then the aura shifted and new recurring themes kept popping up in my feed: bible quotes (usually about struggle and difficulty), sad songs (their lyrics quoted with the song playing in the background), family photos of brighter days tied to concerning captions.

As someone with many friends who struggle with depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues, I do not take such content lightly. Truthfully, I try to combat the darker posts with lighter ones, or at least try to share my understanding and empathy in any way that I can so that others do not feel alone.

One day, I was feeling a little down from all the negative news and the overall gravity of social media. I decided to share one of my personal prayers to my Instagram story, and the response I got from people who were feeling the same, or didn’t have the words but could relate was phenomenal. It drew a lot of my acquaintances closer, and brought out many heartfelt conversations, but above these: it exposed the true emotions one particular friend had bottled up and pushed aside out of fear for her family. So I asked her, “How are you doing these days?”

and she responded with, “…feeling really scared [and] worried. My fam’s super sick…[My brother’s] been puking since last night and I took him to the ER and they said he has the symptoms but didn’t give him the test, so we all have to be under isolation. My dad’s cough is so bad, so I’m monitoring him the most ‘cause he has a heart condition.”

Strangely enough, the first thing I thought was panic buying. I was so concerned her family would not be able to get the things they needed if they couldn’t leave the house. So I replied, “If you need any assistance or any supplies, please tell me. I would be more than happy to help you.” Although, the funny thing about offering help these days is: people won’t take it right away. Instead of accepting the helping hand, the usual response I have gotten from friends and family has been, “I don’t want you to go out of your way” or “That’s too much to ask.” Regardless, I kept telling her it is absolutely not a problem or it isn’t out of the way for me to be able to help until she finally caved and admitted to needing certain items to help look after her loved ones. Little did I know, that one interaction would lead to a weekly routine of supply runs and deliveries for over 10 individuals from my community.

Since making that first delivery, I have acquired information from family members and friends who either personally need or know others who need assistance with regular shopping for essential items such as groceries, hygiene products, cleaning supplies and medication.

I currently help out my grandmother and some of her neighbours and friends, as well as my auntie, uncle, and some of my own friends whose families have been struck by this virus. Every week I post on my Instagram story, making note of which towns or cities I will be in or around (within a 10-15km radius) and accept responses for 24 hours before planning my supply route. Once I receive messages saying someone needs help, I get them to email me their list of needs and their address, and based on where I need to deliver I begin mapping out which stores to visit.

Generally, I try to plan my trips to avoid wasting time in search of a second or third store. Our public shopping hours have been restricted to 8AM-8PM, but I still work a 9AM-5PM job from home, so I am usually in a hurry to get to the store.

As social distancing began about a month ago, I have to alot for extra time to line up outside stores, sanitize the carts or baskets I use, and the bags I carry the supplies in. Once inside the store, I grab everything as quick as I can and get out, then sanitize everything again. I think the greatest challenge of taking on so many families and doing the shopping on their behalf would be how much time I have to shop for so many people. The cart is usually filled beyond the brim and I end up carrying about 10-12 bags out the store on my own. So to work from 9-5, drive to (and line up at) the stores which close at 8, and shop for 2-3 families (plus myself sometimes) within 1-3 hours can be quite challenging.

Nonetheless, it’s manageable and nothing makes me happier than hearing how relieved people are when they receive the items they need. Most of the time, these families e-transfer me payments for their groceries (I tell them deliveries are on me), but for the ones who have lost work or cannot afford to pay, I tell them not to worry about it. I even started to take 50% of my income from my side-business (doing illustrations and portraits) to use towards providing supplies to those who cannot work or have lost their jobs during this time.

What’s been a huge motivational factor in reaching out to my community and trying to help out in any way that I can is this verse from the Bible: “Whenever you possibly can, do good to those who need it” (Proverbs 3:27 TEV). Even though it seems like we’re all in for a rough year, even

when it seems like so many parts of our daily life seem to be tearing at the seams, and all that we know is falling apart, I can’t help but think there are still ways we can make light of this darkness. While there are so many people afraid of what’s going on around the world, I can’t stop thinking about the people who live in countries with less resources, less access to basic needs, who don’t have the means to combat the common cold or feed themselves everyday. I never thought I took my old routine for granted, never thought I had no appreciation for the things I already have, but it took a virus, public panic, a quarantine, seeing everyone afraid to ask for help when they need it, to truly look at all the little things that make my life the privilege I now recognize it to be. So, I keep that in mind everyday, every time I set out to give back.

God blessed me with a life of comfort, stability, structure, accessibility: these are all things I have been accustomed to. Now, seeing how easily that can be taken away, I feel it is my duty to share what I have left of these things with others who do not have that comfort right now.

Thinking back to when my boss asked me at the beginning of all this, “Are you afraid?” The answer is, no. I’m not afraid. I know that may sound irrational to many people, but my faith is that God will not let harm come to me if I do what is good and what is right by myself, by Him and by other people. If I do happen to get sick? So be it. God will not give me more than I can handle. I fully believe my life is not my own, and that all I have right now is temporary and all comes from our creator, our Father. If He was so willing to give me the ability to work right now, to provide for myself, to grant me this blessing of health, then it’s with these gifts that I hope to also keep giving. God is the gift that keeps on giving, and I only hope to embody that in whichever ways I can- small or grand.

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About the Writer:

Natalie Fitzpatrick is a young Graphic Designer and Illustrator, living in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. She loves to hike, runs on coffee, and has a passion for teaching youth about faith.

Ways to Show Kindness During Coronavirus

While a majority of us are safe at home, we may be asking ourselves, “how can I help?”

Now, more than ever, we are witnessing the global community connect, seeing examples of the simple yet meaningful acts of kindness performed for both strangers and close friends and family alike. Our images of heroes have evolved and our perception of gratitude has widened to include every person in our reach.

Here are a few ways we can virtually volunteer and still perform acts of kindness from the comfort of our own homes, and also safely within our communities.

1. Reconnect.

Though physically we all may be apart, being safe at home is the perfect time to reconnect — with our friends and family, with our passions and even with strangers. Take advantage of virtual visits and hangouts, or take a step further to give an act of kindness by singing a song or sending a greeting to someone else to brighten their day.

Most of all, we can use this time of reflection to reconnect with God and #spreadpositivity by sharing an inspiring message or video to someone, today.

2. Do something … for someone else!

Amidst the fear and uncertainty going around, a simple gesture can create a ripple effect that just keeps giving. Maybe it’s leaving a hand-written sign outside thanking a hero, helping out with extra chores at home, making care packages or cards for essential workers — now is the time to do something, a little extra special, for someone else.

3. Shop … for those who might not be able to shop for themselves.

In an effort to stay safe and keep at home, ordering groceries for an elderly neighbor or going out (safely and within guidelines) to pick up essential items for another who needs to stay in, is a gesture that won’t go unnoticed.

4. Teach.

Whether it’s by trade or by hobby, many are looking online to continue life at home, or even move forward by picking up a new skill. Parents have courageously taken on the role of home-schooling their kids. So we applaud the educators giving parents the extra help to keep education going. And yes you! Our fitness / dance coaches who get us off our feet and moving daily! Many are offering free services online, and it’s because of their generosity that we can keep our minds and bodies moving forward. Have a craft you want to share? Document it! This is our history in the making.

5. Support our essential workers and local businesses —

we’re all affected in some way or another. Helping our essential workers by staying as safe as we can, and supporting small businesses that remain open for us, can lighten the load they carry.

6. Keep the conversation going.

If you want to help from the comfort of your own home, you can virtually volunteer by finding an organization that connects you with elderly or at-risk individuals who need someone to talk to. For as little as 1 call or a few minutes a week, you can offer freely and easily.

7. Search online.

There are still many nonprofit organizations, most especially food banks and food services that we can participate with — both from in our own homes, and safely in our communities. If you’re healthy and want to take the step in our local neighborhoods, type “virtual volunteering” in a search engine and see how you can take action.

A few virtual volunteering resource websites:

These are only a few of many ideas of ways we can help our community while practicing social or physical distancing. Have more opportunities you want to share? Email info @incgiving.org and send us photos or video of you virtually volunteering, or ways you’re #INCGivingGratitude in this opportunity to be safe at home.

Let’s focus on the good and keep kindness contagious!

Whenever you possibly can, do good to those who need it. – Proverbs 3:27 TEV

View this post on Instagram

The work to help protect those on the front lines is still on-going. Vanessa Otico, Lisa Jove and other #INCGiving Volunteers are continuing to help by not only making face masks, but by sewing buttons onto headbands. By doing so, this relieves the pressure on the ears while the front liners are still protected. These headbands and face masks will continue to be donated to those who are in need of them at #healthcare facilities. What are some new ways we can help those in need? Let’s keep #INCGivingGratitude and stay focused on the good, so we can keep kindness contagious! #DigitalDeed I #ActsOfKindness I #TogetherAtHome

A post shared by INC Media News (@incmedianews) on Apr 13, 2020 at 2:49pm PDT

The Relationship We All Can Try to Foster

We live in unusual times where, more often than not, what’s good is perceived as bad and what’s bad is perceived as good. In recent times, this has become more and more apparent in the relationship between law enforcement and our communities. The keyword in all this is relationship; because that’s exactly what exists between communities and law enforcement- a relationship- and much like any relationship; it starts with the best of intentions. No one in their right mind begins a relationship with the intent of destroying it. It’s a two-way street and unfortunately, mistakes can be made on either side. It’s almost unavoidable, but I think we can all agree that a good first step towards bettering the relationship is to appreciate each other.

RECOGNIZE WHEN WE ARE BEING APPRECIATED

As a community member, let’s stop and think of how many times law enforcement has responded to a call for help. Individually, our experiences will vary, but as a collective, the positive definitely outweighs the negative. Any time there are emergencies, who are one of the first that show up? Yes, local law enforcement. They show up ready to put their lives on the line. That’s an oath they swore to uphold and an overwhelming majority of the time, that’s what they set out to do.

This oath is significant to me because it was fully upheld at an Iglesia Ni Cristo, Church Of Christ house of worship in Seattle late last year when it was directly attacked with firebombs during a worship service. Thankfully no one was injured and thankfully the local law enforcement was very quick to respond and assure the safety of the congregation. My appreciation for local law enforcement continued to grow even more in recent weeks because they began showing up without even having to call. Local Police Departments across the United States began increasing their patrol rounds at worship buildings in light of the recent attacks on places of worship. In Washington DC and New Jersey specifically, brethren from the Iglesia Ni Cristo, Church Of Christ congregations in that area shared that the local police even went as far as parking multiple law enforcement vehicles in the worship building parking lots, and having officers stand guard in the lobbies. They also offered to speak to the congregations about safety. This initiative and willingness to go the extra mile, in order to assure the community that they were safe, is the perfect example of showing appreciation. They appreciate us enough to proactively face these potential threats of violence, which sadly seem to be increasing towards places of worship. This act of appreciation deserves to be recognized and reciprocated.

LET’S PUT OURSELVES IN THEIR SHOES

Before we start thinking of ways to show our appreciation, let’s consider that it’s easier to understand and appreciate someone if we put ourselves in their shoes. Now we might not have the capability to literally act as a law enforcement officer, nor do I recommend someone do that if they are not in fact a law enforcement officer. But let’s try to understand the nature of the profession. Many people don’t want to be told what they’re doing is wrong and they generally become defensive when that happens. So imagine if a large share of your profession is to identify rules people are breaking and to correct them immediately, essentially telling them they are wrong and to stop doing that. Throw in some chance encounters with people that are actually breaking the law or intend to do so, and it will undoubtedly lead to some tense moments. It reminds me of the old saying, “Expect the best but plan for the worst”. The situations law enforcement officers face on a daily basis can change at an instant. It can shift from a seemingly positive encounter to a very bad one- with their lives ultimately on the line.

RETURN THE APPRECIATION

As a member of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, Church Of Christ, my faith is that we should do good to those who need it. This is also the goal and premise of the INC Giving Project. So with a better understanding of what our local law enforcement officers have to face daily and seeing that, despite these realities, they still make efforts like those in Seattle, Washington DC and New Jersey, let’s do some good and show them that we appreciate them. Here are some examples of things we can do:

Greet any law enforcement officer you see in person and thank them for their service. A smile and a handshake can make all the difference
Visit your local police station and bring them some snacks or a care package.
Organize an appreciation event for them and invite them over.
Write letters or cards of appreciation to your local station.
Treat them the way you would want someone to act if you were in their shoes. Respect and cooperation can go a very long way.

As community members, let’s remember that we are all part of the relationship between law enforcement and our community. We can easily do our part and this list is just a start in the right direction. We live in unusual times, so maybe we should do something unusual and show respect and appreciation to our law enforcement officers. Who knows? Maybe through our efforts, appreciation for one another will become the usual.

Nan Zapanta is an INC Media staff writer from Southern California and is the host of the show Blueprint. When he’s not on the search for stories about kindness or exploring houses of worship, he can be found exploring the outdoors with his wife and dog.

Give A Little Grace

I just wanted a cup of coffee. A strong, beautiful dose of caffeine to get my hectic night-blurred-into-morning continued. Except my eyes were drawn to the minutes slipping away as I rushed to make the noon pick up of my 4-year-old from preschool. I anxiously rolled my car in line of the doctor’s office parking structure after scrambling through my purse for the parking ticket that was actually staring at me from my lap.

Finally, finally … it was my turn.

(Time check, I could make it, coffee is around the corner)

I handed my ticket to the attendant as I picked up a phone call, staring at the clock, gulping down some water while figuring out my driving route and writing my next message in my head. I was far from present, impatiently questioning in my head why the attendant was taking longer than she had with the cars before me …

(Time check, this took way too long, now I’m late!)

I read a few more messages while rerouting my drive with the few seconds I could steal.

“Your hair is so beautiful,” the attendant said.

Confused and completely frazzled in my mind, I looked over responded with a “I’m sorry, what was that?” (really wanting to ask “is there a problem, may I go now?”)

Then she slapped my self-absorbed face with her warmest smile, one that completely stopped me in my tracks and restated, “I really like what you did with it, it’s gorgeous.”

I let out the most embarrassed sigh. Quickly remembering where I was and what I was doing, I let her kindness replace my anxiety with a chuckle, returning her compliment with a big smile of my own, and a “Thank you, I love yours as well!” genuinely adoring her full head of curls that framed her face so well.

I drove off, and instead of rushing to squeeze in that cup of coffee, I took the time to talk to God while I made my way towards my son.

“Thank you,” was the focal point of this prayer.

This parking attendant completely turned my morning around.

Just with a genuine smile, and a compliment — she gave me confidence to remember the little things. You know, the ones we tend to overlook, because it’s so easy to get wrapped up in our own worries.

In my moment of unpresent and auto-piloted exhaustion, her compliment gave me grace. So I try, every morning, to pay it forward and remind myself to give grace to someone else.

Here’s a few ways you can too:

5 Ways You Can Brighten Someone’s Day, By Giving a Little Grace

1. Say the magic words.

“Please” and “Thank you”! We now live in a society of immediate supply and demand. We can order this or customize that to our liking, any moment of the day. But asking politely and appreciating the actions of others can combat this growing notion that we’re entitled to everything. We’re not though, and we can choose to reciprocate kind gestures.

It’s one of the simplest gestures of them all, so it’s easy to skip it. But saying the magic words set the tone of how we also would like to be treated, and remembered.

2. Smile!

When I see a stranger smile at me, it does two things:

One, creep me out. Joking! But in all seriousness, it makes me self-aware. Am I doing something towards them to make them feel happy, did I possibly make them laugh? Maybe they’re just being polite. Without fail, I resort to the latter. Regardless, smiles are contagious, just like laughs are.

Two, smiles given to me remind me how much better it is to choose happy, and to share it. I could be having the worst day ever, but if someone goes out of their way to smile at me in passing, I immediately am conscious of what message my face is delivering. I want to deliver kindness and nothing else … whether it’s the first time or the 100th time I’ve seen them.

3. Hold the door.

Or simply, look for other opportunities to help. We’re all in need of something, be it material or emotional, or even spiritual. Something as small as getting up out of your seat to offer it to the elderly across the room, or leaving a fun note and some change in the machine at the laundromat for the next user — we never know how far the gesture can go, so it’s worth a try.

4. Stay, or Walk Away.

Sometimes, all someone needs is someone to talk to, or someone to listen. Investing interest in someone else, even if for one minute, while we put our thoughts on pause, could make the world of a difference to someone else.

And other times, we can make someone’s day by walking away — you know, those unfortunate times where our human limitations get the best of us, our blood boils out of frustration and we find ourselves possibly a little overly expressive? Yea … those times can be tough. But consciously watching our words, actions and reactions — speaking with grace — it can all greatly impact the quality of time we have with others and the lasting impression we make on the relationships we have.

5. Slow down.

In other words, be present. Just as I was rushing to move on to the next agenda item of my day when the kind parking attendant complimented me, I’m reminded every day of how important it is to stop and give someone else a moment of me; of my attention, my heart, my energy. It’s a conscious, constant effort I’m learning to make that opens up more opportunities to do good onto others.

I pray to never be remembered as the person who was “too busy to look up.” I want to carry the love of Christ in my heart, and have it written all over my face at all times, even the busiest, most chaotic ones. I learn this every day from people around me doing good.

I want to do good, by giving grace to others. I know what it did (and what it does!) to me, and I pray for more opportunities to share this simple act of kindness to others.

About the Writer:

@LoisPaula is a full-time staff member at INC Media Services. With a background in public relations, she’s always drawn to opportunities that promote positive social change and raise the visibility of a life led by God. Mostly, she’s just navigating the everyday balance of faith and family herself, while reading the pages of the story God writes for her 4-year-old boy and soon-to-be baby girl with her husband in Orange County, Calif.

What a Sandwich Taught Me About the Momentum of Kindness

When you hear the term “act of kindness” what do you picture? Until recently, when I heard or read the term “act of kindness”, I pictured smiling faces, food banks, clothing drives and large groups of people gathered for a specific cause. But recently, that image was replaced by, of all things, a sandwich.

…share the goodness with someone else…

It is as random as it sounds. The other day, my friend kindly offered me a sandwich. A picture-perfect sandwich crafted with ham, lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise and cheese sitting between two slices of soft yet slightly toasted bread. Yes, if you can’t tell, food makes me smile. So when she offered, I happily accepted. But quickly realized that I had packed my lunch for the day. I was faced with a decision- either eat this delicious sandwich, which I clearly didn’t need, or share the goodness with someone else? I never really thought about it. I work in Orange County, home to some of the most affluent cities in the country. How many people go hungry here in the “OC” as it’s commonly referred to. Do people even go hungry here? I have seen some of the less fortunate in the area so I had an idea. After a bit of searching on the Internet, it turns out 301,000 people are at risk of hunger each month in Orange County, California according to www.feedoc.org.

With that many people at risk of hunger, the decision was clear. I decided to take some snacks from the lunch I had packed myself, along with the sandwich my friend so kindly shared, and make another lunch from that. I thought for sure there had to be someone out there that needed lunch, so I decided to go for a drive.

…all of it, was so fulfilling- much more fulfilling than enjoying something for yourself.

Finding someone wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be. I found myself driving around aimlessly until I came to a stop at an intersection. There I found a young man playing a guitar. He smiled as he played and at his feet, there was a sign that read, “Anything helps”. It was a sign, literally. So I pulled over and offered him the lunch. The strumming stopped, his eyes lit up and he ran towards me. He couldn’t stop saying “Thank you.” I almost felt embarrassed because I hadn’t really done anything special enough to warrant such a response. But his gratitude was clear and in that moment, it hit me. Driving around, looking for someone that might need a lunch, seeing this young man, witnessing his reaction…all of it, was so fulfilling- much more fulfilling than enjoying something for myself. Granted all this unfolded in a matter of hours, I learned a lot of things from the experience.

Here’s what I discovered.

1.An act of kindness can come in so many different forms

An act of kindness can come in so many different forms, even very subtle ones like a ham sandwich. Not to sound cliché, but kindness is all around us. If we see past the cloud of negativity and harshness that lingers all around the world these days, we see that, more often than not, there are people willing to share and willing to do something for others.

2. An act of kindness, big or small, is inspiring

I didn’t plan on receiving a free sandwich that day nor did I plan to drive around and share a sandwich. But I was inspired as the direct recipient of an act of kindness. If we find ourselves on the receiving end of kindness, let’s think about how we can extend the reach of that act.

3. An act of kindness carries momentum with it

Ultimately, those of us who receive kindness also determine the reach of that act of kindness. This reach can be extended if we continue sharing kindness after receiving it. So as easy as it can stop with us, it can just as easily continue through us.

4. Gratitude isn’t the real source of fulfillment

Gratitude, as good as it can make you feel, isn’t the real source of fulfillment. The young man playing his guitar was extremely grateful and I’ll admit, it made me feel really good to see how grateful he was. But since then I’ve reached out to others in a similar way and have received a variety of responses. Some have expressed indifference, some even reluctance. Thankfully none have been angry. But in each moment, surprisingly, I still felt the same degree of fulfillment.

5. My motivation to share kindness

I learned that the sandwich may have been the catalyst for me to share that day, but my motivation to share kindness is deeply rooted in my faith and in the efforts promoted by the INC Giving Project.

Since helping with the INC Giving Project, my values and motivation to do good have been enriched. The goal now is to carry the momentum of “an act of kindness” even further, for as many people as we can.

…carry the momentum of “an act of kindness” even further…

3 Reasons to Thank a Police Officer

They may have pulled you over on our daily commute for going that extra 10 mph over the speed limit; or maybe you saw them directing traffic from an unfortunate 3-car pile up on the side of the highway or keeping order at the concert you went to last month. Who would these public workers be? You guessed correctly, police officers.

Hopefully, your last interaction with them was a friendly observance of them performing one of the many functions that duty calls them to, and not to impose direct force on you from an infringement, or God-forbid be one of the individuals you faintly remember from that life-threatening or tragic incident.

Why Police Officers Deserve our Thanks

We will never be obligated to appreciate them for their service, but here are a few reasons why thanking a police officer could provide us another layer of comfort as we step outside our front door and into the world.

#1. They serve us, the community.

In many communities, police and law enforcement officers don’t only serve to protect or keep law and order. It’s said that law enforcement take the role of social workers, community organizers, counselors, protectors, mediators and even medical care providers.

Regardless of the reason, police officers respond to the call of duty. Recognized or not by people like you and me, they continue to serve at a moment’s notice, many times for things unseen. They’re here for us, people of their community. They don’t have to, but they choose to.

“We work day in and day out, and we tend to deal with the 5% of people who don’t necessarily want to see the police. We know the 95% of the people who do appreciate the police are out there, but it just solidifies it and makes it real, when people come and show appreciation like you guys did here today.”

– Sergeant Cory Ma // Calgary Police Station – District 3, North Haven.

Calgary Police Station, Canada

#2. They have family, as well.

Like any public service worker, police and first responders contribute long hours and constantly stay on the clock, many times at the expense of directly serving the needs of their own families.

But when an unfortunate situation strikes, and they become one of our few trusted confidants, or even just a symbolic representation of hope — we remember that they stood by our side. It’s their faces and their names that leave a lasting impression. Without question, we’re already family. They don’t have to be, but they choose to.

“It was (an event) where I got to sit down with a few ladies who could have been my mom or my grandmother … and a whole slew of little children who were just so excited to speak with a police officer … even when when guys went back to the station and were finishing up their work getting ready to go home and spend time with their real families, they were still commenting on how wonderful it made them feel to share a really great meal with people who stay right across the street.” – Lt. Allan Roman // Anaheim Police Department

Saskatoon Police Service, Canada

#3. We need each other

In as much as the community becomes an extended family for and with its local police or law enforcement branch, it’s understood that we will need each other.

Members of the Church Of Christ or INC Giving volunteers, for example, continuously make the constant conscious effort to open its doors to the families and neighbors within the communities it serves. Police officers are no different. With all types of public workers around the world, INC Giving volunteers host events and take time to ensure their local law enforcement and first responders know how much the Church values their time, and their sacrifice. Most especially with their youth. It’s an investment of trust that in the years to come both parties see as beneficial for the betterment of their communities. Families don’t have to introduce themselves or their children to police officers, or all neighbors, but many choose to.

“… it’s always a good experience to see the kids come in and be able to talk to them and try to give them positive influence … in an environment that’s safe, where they can see that there’s nothing to be afraid of … to be able to see their faces light up … it just makes our day, and we really really enjoy having groups like yours come and see us.” – Captain Phillip Orelli // Jacksonville Fire & Rescue, Station 30

“I think it’s important that we all support each other and always look for the good in everybody. It’s easy for people to focus on the negatives, but if we could all take a second to focus on something positive, it could take us a lot further in helping our community and helping each other.” – Sergeant Alana MacLeod // Calgary Police Station – District 3, North Haven

Washington, D.C.

The Choice is Yours

“Thank you for your service,” is all it takes. Even a smile or another token of your appreciation could translate the same. This line carries a lot of weight to service workers everywhere. Whether it’s our mailman we see every day, or the family member returning from military deployment, or even our teacher we rush out of the classroom to leave without even a wave goodbye.

So although you don’t have to, and even if you may not see its impact directly, we hope you choose to appreciate a law enforcement or first responder today.

Need some help? Contact your local or District Christian Family Organization Officers, or email info@incgiving.org.

Whenever you possibly can, do good to those who need it. (Proverbs 3:27 GNT)

Highpoint, North Carolina

Bone Marrow Donor Finds a Match

With pride in his heart, Vlad Anselmo from Tracy, California posted about his younger brother Heinz. He wrote, “ I’m super proud of my younger brother! Two weeks ago he unselfishly donated his bone marrow to save someone he never met” The youngest of four, Heinz never liked the spotlight but has always been willing to help lend a helping hand.

Be the Match Program

“I think it was maybe 2-3 years ago, It was in Union City, California, there was a Filipino festival with and the Be The Match National Marrow Donor Program booth was taking (saliva swabs) samples from people hoping to be a match for a patient…and I think at the time, one of my friend’s niece needed a bone marrow…her name is Sarlea Lugtu Atizado..” Heinz said as he tried to untangle his memory. At the time, Sarlea’s niece, Myla was looking for a bone marrow match. Bone marrow donations for the Asian American community has always been low….organizations like the Asian America donor program spend much of their time campaigning for donors. But with the help of organizations like the INC giving project and the donor drives the Iglesia Ni Cristo sponsors regularly in communities across America – They’re able to bring awareness to the need of more donors in Asian Communities.

Becoming A Match

And while he didn’t end up being a match for Myla — three years after adding his name to the bone marrow registry he was a match for another young girl with leukemia. Heinz traveled to San Diego for the procedure. The bone marrow was extracted from him on a Tuesday night and by Wednesday he was on his way back to the bay area to return to work With minor pain, no complications, and gratitude in his heart, Heinz recovered quickly. “If I do get to meet her and she is alive and well I would like to just give her a hug, and I hope she continues to live her life knowing that we’re here to support her in any way.” Heinz starts to get emotional these words to spill from his lips, “I would really encourage everyone to do it. It’s an operation that will help somebody live longer.”

Moved By Faith

His kindness comes from his faith, a faith he hopes to share with everyone. “Of course I’m an advocate of INC Giving, this is our way of reaching out to the community to our fellow man on this planet and it’s also to introduce the Church, that we are proud members of the Church of Christ (Iglesia Ni Cristo)”

If you would like more information on bone marrow donation visit: bethematch.org. To find out more about inc giving, visit incgiving.org

Written By Janlynn Valerio.

Janlynn Valerio is a staff writer at incmedia.org. She’s originally from Hawaii and that’s why she likes to wear slippers in the winter.

The Gift of Jackets, Gloves, and Kindness

With freezing cold temperatures across North America, 2019’s winter season has been brutal, but every winter is tough in British Columbia.

“….People call and say we have no gloves, we have no toques (beanies), we have nothing, we’re freezing. The cold spells that have just happened, have us out for all of our inventory” says Sanja Poitras as she wraps her jacket closer to her. Sanja and her husband founded Help on Wheels, a community outreach program that collects donations, and delivers food, clothes, and other necessities to people in need.

“We’re working with several schools in the lower mainland. Where the kids just have zero clothes, zero warm clothes but also zero footwear” Sanja adds, her voice wrapped in concern. Help on Wheels began in 2010, but Sanja has always been involved with her community. So what started it all? She volunteered to help a school’s clothing closet and realized the need.

“I remember clearly witnessing the need in that school and I kept saying “someone should do something about this!” And the still small voice said “YOU should do something about this!

What was missing was the LINK between the people who had stuff to give and those that had a need. There literally was not an organization that received inventory for free and gave it to people in need for free. So my husband and I and our 7 kids stepped up. We both quit our jobs and funded this charity with our savings and the rest is history.

Since then, Sanja has partnered with many organizations in the community, among them, the INC Giving project. The INC Giving project is a community outreach program of the Church Of Christ (Iglesia Ni Cristo) has reached out to Help on Wheels in 2012, and this year, they decided to pitch in again.

Volunteers like Homer Conception know exactly what to donate.

“Everything, from pants to shirts to gloves to toques. Anything to keep you warm. And we can definitely give more and this is just a small part of what we can do. It’s a great thing for all of us to be a part of and it’s really exciting and fun for all of us.” Homer smiles even though he is shivering.

Volunteers load a box of donated winter clothing into a van.

Volunteers load multiple boxes of donated winter wear into the Help on Wheels van.

“This is what we do in the Church. Every time we give what we have, we share what we have, we are always happy. This also as the instruction of the Church Administration on their campaign to follow and fulfill the commandments of our Almighty God which is in the Bible which helps our fellow men.

Says Brother Moriel Cadacio a minister of the gospel, overseeing the winter wear drive. At the end of the day, Sanja has collected 3,565 lbs of clothing from INC Giving Volunteers. “The quality of the donations has always been amazing, so the impact itself is just, if you can imagine a single mom with four kids and the kid, the two-year-old has got cancer in his spine, and the six-year-old is actually trying to be the mom, but they have nothing. No clothes, no shoes, no food, so we have just been so lucky when we get donations like this because you guys just labeled them, so it’s wiping out all of our labor on our side, so we just open the box and say “Here you go.” And to be able to help in a time like that is just, I don’t even, I don’t want to start crying so let’s just move on. But it’s an impact, you guys are amazing.”

If you would like to make a donation to help on wheels email sanja@helponwheels.ca

To find out more about volunteering opportunities with inc giving, visit incgiving.org

Janlynn Valerio, a staff writer & web content producer at incmedia.org. She’s originally from Hawaii and that’s why she likes to wear slippers in the winter.

Bringing Smiles To The Littlest Cancer Patient

All Eleanor wanted on her last day of proton radiation therapy was to wear a panda outfit and she wanted her proton therapist, Kenneth Manalo, to join her.

“She’s so brave. She had to be under anesthesia every day for her treatment and when she would wake up she would just smile. She’s a ray of sunshine every day. Everyone was always excited to see her. I wanted to make her happy, so I dressed up as a panda on her “Graduation Day.” Kenneth Manalo explains with kindness seeping through each word.

Conventional radiation therapy uses x-ray beams comprised mostly of photons, there is an entrance and exit dose when delivering the radiation. With protons, the energy is delivered directly to the site within the tumor, minimizing damage to surrounding organs and tissues.

“Going through radiation/chemotherapy is tough…I want to make sure they’re comfortable, not anxious or scared.”

Kenneth knows how tough radiation/chemotherapy can be, his dad died of liver cancer in 1993 and after his father’s death, he wanted to pursue a career in the medical field.

It wasn’t until college where he realized he wanted to become a Proton Therapist for cancer patients. Kenneth wants to be there for his patients during their most vulnerable time to help them heal.

His deep compassion comes from his gratitude to God and his faith.

“I’ve been blessed to have opportunities like this. To have an education, to have a career like this, I’m so thankful and I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for God.”

Kenneth Manalo is a member of the Church Of Christ and is involved in the INC Giving Project, a project that encourages volunteers to share their faith through acts of kindness.

“There isn’t a day that I”m not thankful. I believe this shows naturally with patients because I’ve been shown such compassion that I give it back. Even better is when patients come to visit when they have a follow-up and they come back with great news, either that their tumors are shrinking or that their scans are clean. It’s incredible the wonderful people you meet and the relationships you build.”

“So when Eleanor’s mom asked me to wear a panda costume, I happily obliged, Eleanor is the happiest baby…we knew how bad she felt [because of treatment] but she smiles every single day”.

You don’t have to be in the medical field to make a difference in a cancer patient’s life. Visit cancer.org to find how you can help.

A Life-Changing Opportunity

An INC Giving Volunteer Shares Her Experience in Vanuatu

I remember watching the weather forecast for Port Vila, the harborside capital and main hub of the small South Pacific nation of Vanuatu, and constantly being reminded to prepare for wet weather conditions, as it was forecasted to rain. But, from the moment we arrived, the rain halted till the day we left the island.

During the first two days of my arrival, along with the other four sisters I traveled with, we made it our mission to invite people in town to our worship services and evangelical missions.

Sharing our faith around town using our cell phones.

We did not have physical copies of invitations, so we improvised using technology and showing invitations on our phones. That afternoon, we attended a worship service at Blacksands Group Worship Services in Port Vila. That was the first opportunity I had to perform my duty as a choir member in Vanuatu. We not only worshiped with fellow members of the Church, but also with the many guests that arrived to listen to the words of God that afternoon.

With some of the performing choir members.

The next day, we arrived at nearby Laken Village, where we held the Children’s worship service, an adult’s worship service, as well as a baptism consecutively on this day. The children were so excited about the worship service, and they listened when the Children’s Worship Service Teachers began teaching them the words of God.

A young girl listens attentively during the Children’s Worship Service.

I remember Brother Lucky, a minister of the gospel, telling the children that they have hope in their life, that they have something to look forward to and they’ll be blessed with a bright future because they are now the children of God, and the look of hope and happiness that came from these children is something I could never forget.

This day, we also witnessed 10 brethren receive the holy baptism. This was a special experience as choir members, because unlike back home, in Sydney, we sang hymns of praises on the banks of the lake while curious onlookers from the village looked on as we worshipped God. After this event, I was able to speak to a couple of youth members from this Group Worship Service (GWS), who told us that after watching the choir in the worship services, they were inspired to also become choir members. I felt joyful and hope that God willing, this GWS would call more members and officers and that one day, they too would have choir members singing in their worship services.

Later that day, we traveled to Prima Village, where we were confronted by not only the poor living conditions of the people but the challenging walk through narrow paths, muddy walkways, and slopes that would lead us to the place where we held the evangelical mission and the medical mission.

Most of the brethren who traveled to Vanuatu were practicing health care workers, such as nurses and doctors. As a registered trauma nurse back in Australia, I got the chance to help provide the villagers with basic medical attention, medication, as well as consultations with doctors. I encountered many children who required treatment.

One particular case I managed was a one-year-old baby who had boiling water accidentally spilled onto one of his legs causing second-degree burns. This was left untreated and exposed for over a week. I recall the baby being in great pain and the wound being so dirty, but we were able to dress the wound, give extra medical supplies but most importantly, educate the mother on how to care for the injury. At times we all struggled giving help, due to our different languages, but thebrethren from the different GWS were able to help us translate and overcome this obstacle.

This medical mission really opened my view on the reality of poverty, that simple treatment and education, which is a basic necessity back home, is something that these people cannot easily access.

The following day we dedicated the village chapel in Teouma. Though this was a quite a distance from The chapel overflowed with brethren from Blacksands, Prima Village and Laken Village, with many listening from outside, under marquees. You could truly see the joy of the brethren, blessed with a place they can use to worship Our Lord God.

Members of the Church Of Christ make their way to the newly constructed village worship building in Teouma.

To accommodate a large number of attendees a tent was set up for the dedication.

That afternoon, we then traveled to Seaside markets, to hold another evangelical mission. Many guests arrived and people gathered around the venue wandered in, curious to see what we were doing. They listened to the hymn singing, and to the preaching of God’s words, led by Brother Raul Adalla, and then a video was shown, that displayed the many victories that the Iglesia Ni Cristo has achieved. This followed with the giving of goodwill bags, that brethren from the other GWS had helped give out. At this time, we were also signing up the names of the villagers who voluntarily wanted to become bible students. It was very overwhelming, we continuously.

This opportunity I was given, to visit the Republic of Vanuatu, certainly served as an inspiration to continue to work harder and become ever stronger in my faith.

To witness the rapid growth of membership, and the warm welcome of the people in this part of the world, truly shows that God will always bless his people with the many victories in the Church.

We were able to show unity with other brethren that came from different places in our district, and together we were able to fulfill the commandment of God that “Whenever you possibly can, do good to those who need it.”

Written by Janelle Javier

Janelle Javier is a trauma nurse from Seven Hills, Australia. She was able to travel to Vanuatu to help as a choir member and during the outreach events as a medical professional. Watch the full story on the INC Giving Show.

Photos were contributed by volunteers from the Multimedia Bureau of Australia.