My mind said ‘just do something to help. It will make you feel hopeful and emotionally better.’ So when we got the invitation to celebrate our friend’s 60th birthday by volunteering at Heart to Heart International packing Personal Hygiene Kits, I knew I found the something to do!
Heart to Heart is a Lenexa, Kansas, is a non-profit founded by a medical doctor in 1992 to provide medical supply airlifts and medical personnel to countries throughout the world facing disaster. It has sent help to over 100 countries, including Haiti, Vietnam, Liberia, Russia, India and more. In the USA it helps during hurricane and other disaster relief, supplying medical teams and supplies.
Heart to Heart personnel realized that during a disaster people needed personal hygiene supplies. The Personal Hygiene Kits (PHK) were developed, providing toothpaste. toothbrush, soap, shampoo and other items. Millions have been distributed globally.
I have known about Heart to Heart for years, but I have never participated in their volunteer activities, nor had I been to the main headquarters in Lenexa. That changed this past weekend.
Besides wanting to support our friend for his birthday, I must also say that I was drawn to this opportunity because Heart to Heart has been helping victims on both sides of the Gaza conflict by providing hygiene bags and medical aid to Israelis who have been displaced, as well as providing supplies to the victims of the war Hamas started in Gaza.
Not all charities have been even handed in their help, ignoring the suffering of Israelis. Supporting Heart to Heart makes sense. Everyone who faces a crisis throughout the world needs support. Heart to Heart’s mission does not discriminate.
Our two-hour stint was delightful. At first, we were assigned jobs to get the supplies ready. I wrote information on to the PHK bags, while my husband had the opportunity to fold towels. This gave him much joy, because he has been saying for years that when he retires as a doctor (with over 40 years of practice), he wants to fold towels at the gym. I told him that he now has job experience to put on his application: one hour of towel folding at Heart to Heart.
We then joined the other 22 volunteers to start packing the hygiene kits. Our job was to put the packed items into a larger draw-string bag for distribution. Our partners then put these in groups of 15 into a packing box to be shipped where needed.
While we packed there was lively music played to keep us moving. At times I could not help but dance as we packed or waited for more supplies. All the time we were chatting with the other volunteers around us and enjoying the upbeat atmosphere.
When we completed our two-hours shift, we gathered together for a group photo with the birthday boy and his wife. The Heart tto Heart staff told us that we had packed 1250 Personal Hygiene Kits. Somewhere in the world, someone in need will get a towel my husband folded and a bag with my handwriting when they are most in need, as well as one that we packed. That thought makes me feel better!
My mind was right, going to celebrate this birthday by volunteering at Heart to Heart International did help me. I want to get a group together to do it again!
zicharonot 