We recently received this letter from one of our volunteers at our emergency shelter in Leesburg and wanted to share it with you! If you want to experience the same joy of serving with our organization, check out our volunteer opportunities here.

Hi Jamie!

The last two nights with the kids have been so wonderful. Friday night when we brought the spaghetti dinner it was a little bit of everything you could expect from a home occupied by 12 less-than-privileged spunky children. Yes, there was “discombobbledness,” loudness, ok-who-is-missing-nowness,  stop-doing-that-ness, that’s-not-appropriate-ness.

What stays with me the most is that “manners” and I for bringing it.

The kids asked to be excused from the table.  When your staff gave permission, they took their plate and placed them in the dishwasher.  What?

And….it was so nice to just “be” with the kids as we enjoyed supper together, rather than when we come to tutor them and to casually share a meal with them.

How could the next night get any better?  It did, thank you Jesus.

At first, when we brought “Thomas” and my house, (we live just a few doors away from each other) “Thomas” was his loving rambunctious exploring self.

“Susie” was cautious, reserved and quiet, as she’s been for months.  As time wore on, she opened up like her old self, only more so. The first thing we did before we had dinner, was to let them drive our golf carts around the block with us.

Miss Nance took “Thomas”  and experience their laughter?  I think you do.

We had the silliest dinner.  It was nuts.  My husband crazy whipped cream antics.

Then we went via golf cart to Brownwood Square.  Our neighbors, Pete and she put it in her hair.

When the band ate off all of each other’s together.

Our neighbors, Pete and I,  “You girls gotta couple a good kids right here.”  Then we had a golf cart ride back on a warm summer night to cap it off.  It was a night to remember.  It was perfect.  We were all blessed….

Love,
Miss FrenchFry