AWWA Donation Site Tour and Thankful Thursday

This past Monday I was invited to go along on a tour of two of the facilities that funds from the gifts store help to support. Since I have been spending a fair amount of time at one of the gift stores volunteering, I was excited to get the invite.

The first place we visited was in Naha and located in an renovated firehouse. It is a day facility for mentally and physically disabled children and adults. They have about 70 clients overall, some are school-aged kids that come after school, some are adults that come all day, and some are school-aged kids that can't go to regular schools because of their disabilities.

We met some of the clients that were there while we were touring and it was such a great experience. One of the boys, pictured here, is a great artist and a very happy person. He approached each of us with his shark pictures and smiled and told us that the little stick figure in the picture was us and the shark was going to get us. He had an alligator shapped out of newspaper that he would grab our arms with and growl and we would pretend we were scared and that the alligator was "getting" us.

There were some clients there that were working on handicrafts that the center sells at tourist shops to make money for the center to function. Our organization had given them some money a few years ago to do the major renovation from firehouse to the current facility as well as money for vehicles to transport the clients that needed it from home and school. This was the first tour of the facility since the construction was completed.

The second place we went to was similar to a hospital. It was a rehab facility for the economically challenged. We met many people there that were recovering from strokes or other ailments that reduce their mobility. Some of the exercise equipment was purchased from funds our organization provided. We were entertained for a portion of the visit with music in the musical therapy room. Everyone was singing or playing an instrument and it was a really fun experience.

Overall, I had a great time, and it really gave me some perspective. Sometimes I let the small petty BS get in the way of the big things and weigh me down. No matter what is going on in my life, I have my health, friends and family that love me, a roof over my head and food in my belly, so I really don't have much to complain or worry about. I was really thankful to get this opportunity for perspective and I am looking forward to the next site tour we can go on.

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One Year Ago on In My Words...Packing Tape Monster