Shyann Kindess Project

I volunteered today for the Shyann Kindness Project at St. Andrew's Children's Clinic in Nogalas, Arizona.

It was such an incredible experience, and I just wanted to share it.

First of all, for those of you who may not know Nogales is a border town. It extends across the border, so there's a Nogales in Mexico and in Arizona.

The St. Andrew's Clinica is a nondenominational, nonprofit organization that provides medical treatment to children with special needs. It opens up once a month and many doctors, nurses, and volunteers come to Nogales to help Mexican families receive medical attention that they cannot get in Mexico. St. Andrew's even provides a shuttle from the Mexican border to the clinic and then back again. So the clients get a day pass and walk across the border for the day.

This clinic is amazing, sad, and heartwarming all in one big bundle. It's hard to see these special needs children, but it's inspiring to see so many people come together to help them. Especially docters, who in my opinion are not the most selfless group I've meet.

Here is more info on this clinic http://borderbeat.net/section/show/16

I actually volunteered through my work, which came to the clinic because of the Shyann Kindness Project. I won't go into their story, but here is their website http://www.shyannkindness.org/ please check it out. Their mission is basically to pass on kind acts in memory of their late daughter. It is also an incredible organization that makes you believe in humanity, which I personally find hard to do these days (thanks Bush!) They came to the clinic to pass out backpacks, stuffed animals, art supplies, and toys to the children. I was just serving free coffee, iced tea, soda, and pastries compliment of the "little" cafe I work at. But still, the experience was one of those life altering experiences. The compassion that was felt, the happy faces of the children, knowing that some people really care enough to leave their high paying jobs for a day to make a difference in a child's life. It was great! See not ALL people in the world work just to buy bigger and better things. People really do care and try to give back to their community. They even care about helping chidren who are immigrants and don't live in our beloved country.

This world ain't so bad after all.

Oh yeah,

I'm thinking of volunteering at Shyann Tuesday night, and maybe trying to collect things for them. Anyone interested????

June 7, 2007