Yippee Zippee It's Friday Again!

Last night, a few of my friends donated a couple of hours towards a good cause.  Every year, the O'Toole's Harley Davidson Dealership of Wurtsboro, NY does a Santa Toy Drive and Santa visit to the Head Start Program up here in Sullivan County.  These children really have nothing.  Most show up with their best clothes for their one and only photo with Santa and their one and only Christmas gift.
Every year, my companion and I purchase and wrap 'goodie bags' for these kids (the cost of which comes directly out of his pocket and kindness).  Our friends come to donate their time to help us wrap these goodie bags.  Each child receives crayons, a coloring book, stickers, fake tattoos, a lollipop and some other fun little toys.  It's a wonderful evening...lots of talk and laughter and everyone feels so good about what they're doing.  CEOs of major financial institutions, Executive VPs from the communications industry and my favorite...an interior designer who insists that all the items she places in her goodie bags are color coordinated!  You gotta love it!  Food, drinks and the beginnings of new friendships always happen at my dining room table and all of us walk away feeling like we did something nice.  The nicest surprise of the day:  a dear friend of mine heard about the toy drive and went online to purchase 7 gifts for these kids.  She made sure they would be delivered to my home in time to have them wrapped and ready for the December 5th visit.  What an amazing act of kindness!!

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  it doesn't cost money to volunteer an hour of your time towards a good cause.  There are many homeless shelters, orphanages and nursing homes where people just want to be recognized as being alive.  All it takes is a smile, a hello or an hour to listen to them.  Volunteer for something or someone this season.  You've not only made someone else feel better, but you've just saved lots of money on your own mental health.