Currents Winter 2022 Currents Winter 2022 | Page 27

Carrying on a Legacy of Caring
My beloved Campfire Girl vest , still bright and inspiring !
Photos by Shelly Schoeneshoefer
When I was a child , I observed — but did not fully appreciate — how my mother shared her time and creative talents to help our church group organize donations of supplies for food-insecure families in our community . She took extra care that these families were presented with beautiful baskets full of healthy foods and useful household supplies so as to be more of a gift than charity .
As I got older , I came to see the true impact of what such service can be not only for those in need , but also for those who do the work . While it could sometimes be a challenge — I remember her annoyance at receiving outdated jars of maraschino cherries as donations !— she never failed to put her hand up to help organize the logistical efforts involved in sourcing , packing , and delivering these food baskets . It was a monumental and ongoing project , yet it was ideal for someone with her organizational abilities .
in order to collect money that was used to buy a tree near our school . The tree is still there and is now accompanied by more planted trees . ( This reminds me of our FAWCO grant where we sponsored trees for a village in India .) What can be more wonderful than planting trees and watching them grow ? This year , I reached out to several ladies from the Campfire Girls to share what we remember from our childhood times . Most of them still had their vests or beads , and they all agreed that it truly was their path into the volunteer work that they do until this day . We sold candy and cleaned our local lake , creeks , and surrounding areas . We stuffed envelopes and volunteered at the local elderly home . We formed life-long friendships , and all in the name of helping others .
When I first arrived in Hamburg , I looked for ways to volunteer — but with limited German language skills and a busy schedule , it was hard to find the right opportunities . I ’ m really grateful to the AWCH for offering members so many chances to volunteer and participate in an important service in our adopted communities .
And while the folks in these communities benefit , so do we — as we ’ re able to get together and have fun , too — from running / walking the Laufend Gegen Gewalt , to collecting food for Hamburger Tafel , and swapping books to support the Nandanvan Trust . I recognize and appreciate how much fun I have participating in these activities . ( My husband jokes that volunteering is my “ dopamine hit .”) For that , I ’ m grateful to the AWCH Philanthropy group , FAWCO , and to the members who facilitate these opportunities to help out in the community and enjoy each other ’ s company .
– Sara Naumann
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