[Community-Service] Thankful Thursday

Wed May 27 14:02:21 UTC 2020

Ericka and all,
 That is such a wonderful message, and I thank you for sharing it.
 Small acts of service can still be impactful, and these acts can and do make a difference.  I am glad that you were able to do that, and I thank you for your story and ideas.
 This division has grown because of the effort of members of the national Federation of the Blind such as yourself.  People who believe in bettering the lives of the blind of our nation and seek to break down the barriers of discrimination against the blind wherever it might be.
  The ideas and the stories of blind people count as our unique and authentic  experiences, experiences which inform our   belief that the blind are first class members of society and that level of membership in society goes along with the idea that we have responsibility to give as well as take.
 Ericka, what I appreciate about what you offered is that you saw a way to  give back and you did that, and I very much appreciate that, as I am sure many others  reading your note did.
 Our ideas  built this  division.   Our ideas  built service projects,   initiatives, fundraisers  that allowed us to support   the service projects, and support the work of our larger  organized blind movement in the NFB.
 Our efforts and energy helped  us to execute the ideas, and all of this, the ideas, the effort and the people made the division into what it became and set the stage for what it is today. 
This division might have been my idea, but I will also be the first to tell you that this idea does not grow without a great  many people.  I hope those people are reading this, and know just who they are because by way of us working together we built a place where people, no matter how new they are too blindness, to service, to the NFB,  they could find a place, here, inspiration in the stories of success other blind people had and, life long connection in the National Federation of the Blind.
 Together with love, hope and determination we raise expectations of the blind, so  long as  we, through our work live our  federation philosophy, and  our building the  NFB through this, we will insure that we as blind people are living the lives we want.  And that, to me, is the goal no  matter the division, affiliate or chapter. 
 Keep sharing the stories and keep showing how blind people give back.

 Darian  
   ,                 .

     , 

>  May 22, 2020, at 2:59 PM, Ericka via Community-Service <community-service at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Such a nice heartfelt note Darian! Thank you for all you have done to get this division started and look what it’s become! You are quite a blessing to all. It’s the small things that we do for each other that make things better in our world. I love what you said Darian. It’s harder to volunteer these days but at work a small thing like me bringing an ice cream bucket full of a variety pack of M&Ms seem to make a difference yesterday. Usually they don’t get any snacks because we can only share stuff on the snack cart with the residence at my assisted living facility. The residence would love to eat those M&Ms, but I thought the staff needed to know that they were appreciated. I looked for any opportunity to thank them verbally and let them pick out a bag of M&Ms. Not everybody likes M&Ms of course but Manny said that the kind words meant a lot. Wow people think of the doctors and nurses in hospitals and clinics on the front lines, these people have a really stressful job as certified nursing assistance. They’re responsible for so many peoples such intimate needs and how they do their job matters emotionally and physically to each resident. And now with the virus they have to do more like collecting vitals and being so careful not to have things get picked up and go into the wrong room. we really pulled together and they are such blessings! Next time you’re looking for something to do, do not hesitate to find a way to write notes to people in assisted-living facilities. Kids cards, peoples notes with a printed or handwritten matter so very much!
> 
> Happy Morial day weekend and I think God for the mission of the division and the NFBW as a whole.
> 
> Ericka Nelson
> 
>> On May 21, 2020, at 9:32 PM, Darian Smith via Community-Service <community-service at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> Jeanetta, and all:
>> 
>>   Thank you for your note and the reminder to be thankful.
>> 
>> Gratitude is a value of mine,  so this hits close to home for me.
>> I think that there is never a bad time to offer gratitude to someone, because everyone we come across helps shape our views and helps us chart the course our life  takes.
>> The trick to that ability to have gratitude in your heart and express that thankfulness to people in your life is to  be and stay open in your interactions with people, both those you agree with and those you disagree with.
>> I do want to take a moment to thank  you all, my federation family.  I know that  many of you  that are reading this contribute to the work of the federation in different ways, and that you believe in the  mission of our movement. Many of you I know personally, many I want to know.
>> Ultimately, each of you make what we do in our chapters, affiliates, and divisions in terms of the work of our larger movement possible.
>> It is  you and others in our movement which shaped my view of what is possible and helped me chart my course  and still do today.
>> So, thank you.
>> 
>>  Much love,
>> 
>>  Darian   
>> 
>> 
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