The winter holiday is finally upon us. The days are getting colder, and the nights are long, but because of those in our community who donated clothing and shoes, and/or simply spread the word about youth poverty, several thousand impoverished children and teens will stay warm this winter. The Threads of Care team is tabulating the results from our most recent winter clothing drive. I cannot adequately express in words how much gratitude I have for my team, but I will say as I’ve said many times before––every single one of you is remarkably kind, concerned about the well-being of others, and impassioned to make a difference.
To have the privilege of serving and leading with people my age who care so deeply about their fellow peers is an incredibly profound experience: one that is life altering on so many levels. There is a common thread of devotion that I believe my team and I feel toward the people we serve, and I recognize that this commitment will resonate inside of us for the rest of our lives. Again, it is challenging to express my gratitude in a blog post, but our team is simply incredible.
Now, as we begin this wonderful, well-deserved break, I’ve realized that I have a lot thinking to do. Once everyone is back in January, I will be progressively delegating more responsibility to Sidonia Cannon, Threads of Care’s current Deputy Director. By the end of our Spring Clothing Drive (We will be releasing the dates for this shortly), Sidonia will oversee our operation as Executive Director.
While I will still be working closely with this organization in college, helping it spread across the U.S., it still feels odd to work so hard on something with a fantastic group of people, and then let it go. But I guess that’s what makes this organization special: that it can be passed on and run by a brand new team of passionate teen leaders. I’ve learned a lot about myself and others throughout this journey, but I still have much more to learn and am incredibly excited to see Sidonia take Threads of Care to even greater heights next year.
But for the next two weeks, we rest. Happy Holidays to all, and make sure to spend some time with your family and contemplate this fantastic year. 2018 inches closer every day. Onwards!
A foundation established by teens to spread hope to impoverished youth. Teens helping teens, one thread at a time. Join the Movement... because no child ever chooses to be homeless and our future depends on it!