Do you like to think? I do too. And its sharing things like this that I hope help you to think of the good you could do with a simple act. This is a very short story with a very simple lesson.
It’s the holiday season and you may still need a holiday gift for someone that has “everything.”
What in the world can you get them that means more than something to just wear or put on a shelf?
Well, if I told you what that gift should be this early you probably would not read the rest of this blog and would run out to purchase that gift immediately.
Have you ever lived in a state that really lived up to its motto?
During my time in Tennessee, I have seen the state really live up to its nickname: The Volunteer State.
One definition, on an online dictionary (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/volunteer), defines a “volunteer” as one who renders a service or takes part in a transaction while having no legal concern or interest.
I was not born and raised in Tennessee and probably will never be perceived as a local good ole boy but I have lived in this state for over 9 years and learned that the citizens of this state live up to the Volunteer motto.
In May of 2010, I was living in Nashville when over 13” of rain dumped on the city and impacted over 25,000 residents (http://flood.nashvillepubliclibrary.org/).
What I remember more than just the pictures and the stories were the citizens of Tennessee helping each other out. Businesses were providing food for workers; those not impacted were helping their neighbors clean up the mess. Other businesses were using their profits to help the local charities that were lending a helping hand.
For example, the Anderson Design Group created a poster encapsulating the volunteerism in music city with proceeds helping victims
(https://www.andersondesigngroupstore.com/a/collections/spirit-of-nashville/flood-relief ).
In recent news, 15,000 acres in the Smoky Mountains burned impacting towns and families in a place that relies heavily on tourism. Since this disaster happened, the citizens of Tennessee put boots on the ground and have volunteered, donated items and blood and sent prayers to the victims.
The University of Tennessee football players were on the ground assisting as well as former players in Florida creating care packages for impacted families and sending their support back to the state.
I am sure if you think long enough you could come up with a disaster that has impacted you, whether it was a place you visited, live currently or have lived. Now it is time to go out and get that perfect present. >
Recently a One Donation co-founder passed along information about a friend that is a part of a business loaceted in East Tennessee near the wildfires called the Sugarlands Distilling Company (https://gatlinburg.moonshare.org/ ) who is selling t-shirts and hats whose proceeds are going to the victims.
This may not be the perfect present for the individual that you are shopping for, but across the world there have been multiple disasters that have impacted thousands of people. Think of that place that you remember, that was impacted by a fire, hurricane, flood, etc. and find a local business there to buy that perfect present to support those businesses so they can get back on their feet.
If you have any questions or comments about the blog or for the One Donation team please send a message to founders@onedonation.org.
We will be more than happy to perform a search for you and give you 3 options that you may like.
Go here to start today https://goo.gl/forms/AZCdBYfcBAWuimXu1