Generosity

Too often we hear only bad things about teenagers in the media. Of course, I'm really not one to believe all of these sad tales as I spend much of my working time preparing programming for and executing said programming with young people. I really like young people. Yet, not everyone gets to experience the wonderful side of today's youth. However, today I experienced the generosity and kind-heartedness of a group of 13 year-olds and the wonder of a 16 year-old that I have to share.

I spent over two hours with about a dozen young people who dutifully carted the completion collection of their school's food drive over to the church this afternoon. I watched in awe as box after box appeared. When I asked repeatedly, "Is that it?" they assured me there was more on the way. The young man in charge told me they had collected about 1100 items in the school. They wanted to donate 150 items (our maximum) to a parish program, and the remainder to a program in the city we were also donating to as a parish, so I had them quietly over the course of their lunch hour bring their abundance into the church during Mass and store it out of the way. After completing their studies for the day, four of the young men returned, on their own time, and sorted the food, selecting 150 cans for our program, and carting the remainder of the collection over to the city donation site. They only complained when a couple of their boxes broke from the weight of the donations -- I would have too! -- and they were good spirited even when they were told they had to move a few of the donations to another building. I was so impressed by them and their generous spirit.

Just before I left work, I received a gold-plated medal that was intended for one of our altar servers who had to miss a recent ceremony honoring local servers for their hard work and dedication. It was dropped off by the organizer, and I immediately got on the phone to the young man whose mom and he were quite concerned he might not get the award because he had to miss the ceremony because of the funeral I mentioned a few posts ago. He was so excited on the phone and asked if he could come immediately to collect it; I told him I would be leaving in 20 minutes, but he could certainly come if he hurried. I needn't have worried -- our doorbell rang a mere 3 minutes after I hung up from him. I handed him the medal and congratulated him, and he shook my hand like I was the bishop who was awarding it to him. Just before he left, he shook my hand again with excitement. It's nice to see someone honored who really appreciates it; we certainly appreciate him.