January 14, 2009

Gifts of Light

Oops! We almost forgot to share this little holiday story with all of you. Last month we had a chance to speak with PK Beville, founder of Second Wind Dreams (Tzedakah Diary, April 28, 2008, http://www.secondwind.org/), a special organization which makes dreams come true for elders living in closed-care institutions. When you live in a nursing home, the holidays can be particularly difficult. So many of the elders that Second Wind works with are not only isolated because of their confinement to a nursing facility, but many do not even have family who can bring some holiday joy into their lives.

For many years, PK and her volunteers have organized Gifts of Light…a gift extravaganza delivered to elders who might otherwise have a very quiet and sad holiday celebration. This year, the Gifts of Light program was in peril as the economy plummeted and donations dwindled. Could we help? PK was thrilled. With the Good People Fund donation, her volunteer elves hit the stores. Here is what they came up with! A wise investment on our part….