Haley's Dolls
I was offering Raffle tickets to one of my fellow employees (Kathy) where I work, and telling them the story of the community center, and the raffle. Kathy was more than happy to buy two tickets.
That night when Kathy took the tickets home, she was telling her young daughter Haley about the raffle tickets, and what she understood about Richardsville, and the Community Center roof.
Haley simply said..."Mom, what can I do to help?" A few days latter it was decided she would share her Barbie Doll collection. So she laid each one out, brushed their hair, dressed them nicely, carefully placed the collection in a Tupper-ware tub, then also carefully boxed up extra cloths, and outfits to put with them. (yes a full Tupper-ware TUB)
Her mother Kathy brought the carefully packaged gift to work with her the next day, and told me about what her daughter had said and done. I was so moved by the generosity of the child, her willingness to help total strangers, in a place she has never seen. I accepted the gift, and carried it to Richardsville for the 2008 reunion. There I handed the gift over to Community center Board member, Jeanie Hidinger.
As I shared the story of the dolls with Jeanie, all she could say was what a wonderful thing, and Haley should be rewarded for such kindness!
Now that I am back home here in North Carolina, and have had time for so many experiences, conversations and good memories of the reunion sink in. I have thought of how best to recognize Haley for her deed. It accrues to me that people like Haley understand the old Bible verse at a young age. And it is all too common for us as adults to be so distracted by life's daily challenges that we forget one of the greatest secrets in the world. It is better to give than to receive.
Recent photo of Haley
May God bless her, and we all thank Haley for making the world a better place.
