![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bah humbug.
Dec. 14th, 2004 06:58 pmtoday i did some volunteer work at one of the salvation army locations in boston. every year my company gives us the day off to help out at the "christmas castle", and a bunch of reps and managers all spend the day helping out and bonding. the christas castle is this thing the salvation army sets up, where adults can come in and get a few things for christmas: 1. a winter coat for themselves and their children, 2. a voucher for free food from a local supermarket, and 3. two toys for each of their kids. it's very well-organized... the adult comes in and checks in, and shows proof of income and proof of how many children they have. then they are given a personal volunteer guide, and the guide helps them pick out the coats, as well as age-specific toys for the kids. then they check out (and they're offered a free bible... after all, it is the salvation army) and bring everything home.
so, i was really looking forward to today. besides the fact that i love my co-workers and love getting the chance to see them... i really wanted to do some good today, help out unfortunate people who needed a warm coat and a couple of toys for their kids. instead, for the most part, i was so severely disappointed at their behavior. instead of being appreciative that people in boston had donated their clothes or toys (or the money to buy them) and taking what they were allotted, people were trying to steal extra stuff left and right. one woman put a pair of pants over her own and tried to walk out with them on. with another woman, a volunteer went to inspect her bag to make sure she'd received the 2 coats she was allotted... turns out, upon close inspection, she'd stuffed a bunch of smaller coats inside them, and was trying to take 6 instead of 2! people who spoke accented english, and who asked for more than they were supposed to get, suddenly claimed they didn't speak any english when they were turned down. people snuck through without checking out, and got back in line again with their allotment slips to get another round of goods. and supposedly yesterday was worse -- people were shoving each other and fighting over things, trying to cram their bags full of stuff and run. then there were the people coming through the lines covered in gold chains, wearing sean john and baby phat fashions (which i can't even afford). so they were spending the little bit of income they had on themselves, instead of their families. it was just so disheartening.
of course, there were some bright moments -- the elderly russian woman whose husband had just passed away soon after they moved to the states, and was so grateful for the assistance she was given... the young mothers (one with 10 kids!) who were so sweet and left with bags full of toys, beaming at the thought that their kids would have a good holiday this year. several people who bear-hugged their guides goodbye and wished everyone "god bless" and merry christmas. the smiles and the "happy holidays" said in every possible type of broken english. those were the people i was there to help. the others just soured it for me. and i wasn't alone... by the end of the day, many of us felt really broken. i guess we were too idealistic. a bunch of us went across the street afterwards, and vented over glasses of wine so that we wouldn't be sour for the rest of the evening. it's 7pm now, and i'm personally exhausted. i'm taking a bath and going to bed.
so, i was really looking forward to today. besides the fact that i love my co-workers and love getting the chance to see them... i really wanted to do some good today, help out unfortunate people who needed a warm coat and a couple of toys for their kids. instead, for the most part, i was so severely disappointed at their behavior. instead of being appreciative that people in boston had donated their clothes or toys (or the money to buy them) and taking what they were allotted, people were trying to steal extra stuff left and right. one woman put a pair of pants over her own and tried to walk out with them on. with another woman, a volunteer went to inspect her bag to make sure she'd received the 2 coats she was allotted... turns out, upon close inspection, she'd stuffed a bunch of smaller coats inside them, and was trying to take 6 instead of 2! people who spoke accented english, and who asked for more than they were supposed to get, suddenly claimed they didn't speak any english when they were turned down. people snuck through without checking out, and got back in line again with their allotment slips to get another round of goods. and supposedly yesterday was worse -- people were shoving each other and fighting over things, trying to cram their bags full of stuff and run. then there were the people coming through the lines covered in gold chains, wearing sean john and baby phat fashions (which i can't even afford). so they were spending the little bit of income they had on themselves, instead of their families. it was just so disheartening.
of course, there were some bright moments -- the elderly russian woman whose husband had just passed away soon after they moved to the states, and was so grateful for the assistance she was given... the young mothers (one with 10 kids!) who were so sweet and left with bags full of toys, beaming at the thought that their kids would have a good holiday this year. several people who bear-hugged their guides goodbye and wished everyone "god bless" and merry christmas. the smiles and the "happy holidays" said in every possible type of broken english. those were the people i was there to help. the others just soured it for me. and i wasn't alone... by the end of the day, many of us felt really broken. i guess we were too idealistic. a bunch of us went across the street afterwards, and vented over glasses of wine so that we wouldn't be sour for the rest of the evening. it's 7pm now, and i'm personally exhausted. i'm taking a bath and going to bed.
