Do not be dismayed by the brokenness of the world. All things break. And all things can be mended. Not with time, as they say, but with intention. So go. Love intentionally, extravagantly, unconditionally. The broken world waits in darkness for the light that is you.
L.R. Knost
Compassion isn’t just about feeling the pain of others; it’s about bringing them in toward yourself. If we love what God loves, then, in compassion margins get erased. ‘Be compassionate as God is compassionate,’ means the dismantling of barriers that exclude.
Gregory J Boyle
I’ve seen and met angels wearing the disguise of ordinary people living ordinary lives.
— Tracy Chapman
Amazon Smile: Go to smile.amazon.com/ch/27-0311803 and Amazon donates to Pv Volunteers Inc. 0.5% of your purchases goes directly to the PVs.
Giving Assistant: Sign up at https://givingassistant.org/np#pv-volunteers-inc and choose our cause in your account settings. Giving Assistant shoppers earn cash back, and donate a percentage of that cash back to organizations like us! Just sign up for free to start earning and giving. You’ll also enjoy huge savings at 3,000+ popular retailers like eBay and Best Buy, as well as limited-time offers including exclusive Gap coupons! It’s never been easier to change the world.
IGive: Help the PVs every time you shop online, it’s all free and so easy to be socially-conscious. Join me and start Giving #AllYearRound.
The stores make this possible because they want you to like them and shop at them over and over again. There’s 1835 socially-responsible stores helping to make donations happen.
To learn more or sign up now, use this link: http://www.igive.com/U75g6ZT
Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.
Henry Ford
One smile has the power to…
Calm fears.
Soften stone walls.
Warm a cold heart.
Invite a new friend.
Mimic a loving hug.
Beautify the bearer.
Lighten heavy loads.
Promote good deeds.
Brighten a gloomy day.
Comfort a grieving spirit.
Offer hope to the forlorn.
Send a message of caring.
Lift the downtrodden soul.
Patch up invisible wounds.
Weaken the hold of misery.
Act as medicine for suffering.
Attract the companionship of angels.
Fulfill the human need for recognition.
Who knew changing the world would prove so simple?
― Richelle E. Goodrich
The whole idea of compassion is based on a keen awareness of the interdependence of all these living beings, which are all part of one another, and all involved in one another.
Thomas Merton
Thanks to you, our supporters, Juanita and Hector will sleep better at night knowing that their son is not trapped inside their house. He won’t be trapped outside of their house during the day, either. This is because Juanita and her family now have a new wheelchair ramp made possible by her family, her church community, her neighbors and her new friends, the PV Volunteers.
Juanita’s son Juan has cerebral palsy, and gets around in a wheelchair. For years, the family has relied on a faulty electric lift to get Juan in and out of the house. If the lift isn’t working, Juan either stays home until it works, or is trapped outside until it works. There was no other way out of the house for him. Of course, the lift malfunctions more often at the most inopportune times, like when it is cold outside, or raining, etc. Inconceivably save for the love of a mother, Juanita – all 4-foot-10 of her – has had to physically pull her fully grown son up the stairs before to get him into the house, after waiting hours for the repair person to come on a freezing winter day.
Juanita’s husband Hector is not able to help as much as he once did, since becoming blind from diabetes. Along with middle school daughter Sally, the family itself proves St. Paul of the Cross mantra that “Love is Ingenious” every day, finding ways to survive and thrive with all of the challenges they face.
Juanita is blessed with a loving family and good friends in her community. But due to the fear of dealing with city permits, not to mention the upfront cost, starting construction of a 30-40 foot wheelchair ramp was always a non-starter for the family.
This is where the PV Volunteers were able to step in and give Juanita’s family the boost and blessing of a start. During their week-long stay in Aurora, the PV’s were able to secure a city permit, dig all of the post holes (fall four feet deep!), complete the framing of the ramp and guard rail, and start to install a new door at the top of the ramp that will be Juan’s new fail-safe entry into and out of his own house.
The PV Volunteers guided the ramp project through two of the out of the three city inspections it needs to pass. Upon leaving, they handed the baton off to Juanita’s family an community, who are finishing and helping to fund and build the guard rail, the door, the thresholds and the handrails.
In all, over 30 people will have made this ramp possible. It is a perfect example of PV Volunteer work at its best, working with families and communities to give the boost they need to meet needs that would otherwise not be met. And letting God evangelize the volunteers in the process, through service and relationship.
Written by PV and our Aurora, IL host, Bruce Bachmeier
As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
-Marianne Williamson