Event Date: November 16, 2010

The very first volunteer event of 20 Causes, 20 Days. I won’t deny I felt a twinge of excitement as I arrived on the Easter Seals campus. It felt like this was the start of something big. I knew Mom was watching and that she would be proud.

Today was extra special because it was the first event with the newest feature of the project, which allows me to share this experience with five others.

My volunteers today were all my colleagues. Luckily, my General Manager Allyson granted me permission to bring my coworkers with me to volunteer on this day.

From Left to Right: Jim, Allyson, Susan, Krispin, Laurel

Now is also a great time to thank Allyson for allowing me to even do 20 Causes, 20 Days in the first place.

I hopped in the car with Susan and Laurel, and we took off. Thanks for driving, Susan!

We arrived, and my other colleagues Jim and Krispin arrived shortly thereafter. We met Sue Harris, Vice President of Adult Day Programs, and she told us what our tasks would be on this day. We would be helping serve Thanksgiving dinner to approximately 200 people.

While busy preparing a Thanksgiving turkey dinner for he spoke with a warm smile, and the passion she has for her role shined brilliantly.

Today was a Thanksgiving dinner for the “consumers*” of the Easter Seals Superior California, whose mission is dedicated to empowering people with disabilities by offering a wide range of services and leadership opportunities designed to encourage maximum independence.

Some of the full-time volunteers helped us get started with our roles. Krispin and Susan were on the kitchen line, and Laurel, Jim, and I would be serving the plates to the consumers. Eight 15 foot tables, set up in a large multi-use room, packed full with men and women, girls and boys. Of all nationalities. Every one of them smiling as we delivered a delicious meal to their tables.

Everyone was very friendly. Warm smiles, handshakes, high fives, and thank yous were in surplus as I served about three dozen meals to the consumers.

I found myself channeling my experience waiting tables as I snaked around chairs, tables, poles, and wheelchairs. A lady named Ellen introduced me to someone else named Eric. I know his name was spelled with a C because he introduced himself as “Eric with a C.”

“Eric with a C” and Erik

Another guy introduced himself with a point to his chest. “Anthony,” he said. Then he pointed to me and waited, eyes wide open in anticipation. “Erik” I replied. He pointed to himself again and said “Anthony” then pointed to me and said “Erik.” Then he pointed back to himself and waited. I said “Anthony” and he broke out in a huge smile. He then busted out a thumbs up and I returned the gesture, which morphed into a fist bump.

Every time I passed by him again, we would repeat this sequence. Five times total.

In between trips to the kitchen line and fist bumps from Anthony, I could see Jim and Laurel were busy too. Krispin and Susan seemed to be enjoying themselves in the kitchen line too.

Just as lunch was dying down, my General Manager Allyson arrived just in time to help me bus tables. Together we cleaned off a few tables, and she took that role with gusto. It was a cool feeling to know that the GM of my company and me were working together in the trenches to help those less fortunate than us.

Allyson kept talking about the fact that her shoes, closed toe black pumps, were the hit of the dinner. Many of the consumers had asked about them, and in fact Anthony inquired whether they were Birkenstocks! A good laugh, a great memory.

A great time was had by all. When asked what she’ll take from today, Krispin said “While I was serving, I looked around the room at the faces of those eating and they seemed so grateful – I even had some come up to me and thank me. It reminded me of how fortunate I am and how important it is to give back to others.”

Sue, along with the Easter Seals California Superior, are always looking for volunteers for a wide variety of projects. The easiest way to volunteer is using the website, which is www.myeasterseals.org.

For project’s first time out with five volunteers, it was a perfect day. Thank you so much to Susan, Laurel, Jim, Krispin, and Allyson for joining me today, and thank you to Sue and the Easter Seals for doing what they do to help care for a very underserved segment of our community.

Take an afternoon to volunteer with the Easter Seals. Who knows, you could learn a lot about yourself in the process

*“Consumers” are the men and women who benefit from the services Easter Seals provides.

Easter Seals of Sacramento
916-485-6711

Please leave comment below!
Thank you,
Erik