Late post: Basket Brigade

Basket Brigade: volunteers donate gift baskets of food for a thanksgiving feast to needy families around the world. à a small act of kindness

The SECRET To LIFE Is GIVING 

My family and I have been doing basket brigade over the years in both, England and The United States. It all started with us attending an Anthony Robbins’ seminar, Unleash the Power Within in the 90’s. Anthony Robbins’ communicated an anecdote to the audience about his very first time he was introduced to basket brigade. He shared the amount of pleasure he got from this experience, and decided to make it an annual tradition. From this story, my family and I decided to incorporate this practice in our lives. My parents thought it would be wise to start my brother and I off early giving back to the community (I was 8 and my brother was 10). They were right, ever since then, we have been actively participating in basket brigades.

A few days before thanksgiving

This year for thanksgiving, my family and I attended a basket brigade that was hosted by La Rosa Realty. Families within the business, community, and city came out and helped deliver baskets. There were over 320 baskets that were made by the various families that included a food for a thanksgiving dinner, a gift-card to the grocery store for a turkey, and a kind note. My brother, mum and I were in charge of delivering 10 baskets to homes in the Central Florida area.

Out of the 10 houses that we delivered to, 3 of the families weren’t there so we either gave the baskets to their neighbors to give to them or gave it to a different family in the same neighborhood. Most of the families that did answer the door were so shocked and confused as to what was happening. We wished them a Happy Thanksgiving, and told them that this basket was a gift from a friend, and hope that one day they will be able to pay it forward.

I distinctly remember one family that we gave the basket to; the whole family came to the door (4 kids and a mother). The kids had a huge smile on their face when they saw the food, and there were tears in the mother’s eye knowing that she would be able to provide her family a thanksgiving meal. She couldn’t stop thanking us and kept saying, “bless you”. This house alone was enough to remind me the importance of giving back.
I am so happy that every year, I am blessed to volunteer, and give back to the community. It’s the same things in life that make the biggest difference.