Recently a Longmont non-profit, A Woman’s Work, held a luncheon celebrating their 8th year of helping local women who need timely help, both financially and emotionally, when dealing with unexpected crisis in their lives and who’s immediate financial needs cannot be met by other sources. In return, AWW asks only that recipients perform an act of kindness in return. ask nly that recipients perform an act of kindness in return.
Over 400 community minded women, and men, showed up to support their efforts. What was very telling about this event was how every table at the luncheon had upon it a tissue box. When you heard the personal stories told at the luncheon, you understood why.
One of the hardest parts of the event is asking people to share their stories.
One speaker talked about “What gets in the way of asking for help?” She answered her question with “Pride and a lack of awareness” and spoke of how she became to be involved with AWW first as a volunteer, then as a recipient of their help after she came to the verge of bankruptcy and nearly lost her own home. Even though she had been an active volunteer for a while, once she realized that what AWW did was actually help women just like her, she was at first too prideful to ask for help. Now she is back in a position where she can again give back to the organization and emphasized how important it is for those attending to communicate the good work of AWW.
In another moving story, AWW was there for the family of a young woman and high school student in the community who had been recently diagnosed with leukemia. Her dad spoke about his daughter, Olivia, and how when they found out she had leukemia, he compared it to a tornado occurring. He told of how their family was strong, their faith was strong but when his daughter was diagnosed with leukemia, they were not in a good financial place. He spoke of how the one positive thing the “tornado” uncovered what was right in front of him and that was AWW. With their assistance, it allowed them to focus on getting their daughter healthy again.
Following Olivia’s father speaking, the family of another AWW volunteer who had recently passed away from cancer presented Olivia’s dad with a gift in a presentation that caused many to again reach for those tissue boxes upon the tables.AWW also awarded their first ever $5K AWW Founders Scholarship to a local mother who had returned to college to better herself for her family.AWW has an incredible network of resources and if they don’t have the answer, they know how to find one. For more about A Woman’s Work, visit their website found at this link. They frequently hold many fun fundraising events. This Sunday, October 23rd, 2011 they will host a Superhero Bash for kids that in addition to being a fun costume and game filled event, will show how kids can be a volunteer and give back to their community.
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