The PEZ candy dispenser, shaped like a bunny, was passed around at a recent Laraway Development Committee meeting. Bunny in hand, participants took turns answering the question: "Reflect on a gift you received---tangible or intangible---from working with the kids at Laraway."
"So many of our kids want to be anonymous," a case manager said. "When kids give me their school picture, it feels really special. It's a sign of trust. Sometimes we work with kids who've experienced the darkest places. I've learned from them that, even in the darkest places, you can find light. You're still able to experience beauty and love...and recover."
"Patience is hard to come by, but valuable. If kids are patient and resilient, they can find what they're passionate about," a school staffer said. The gift is in witnessing healthy transformations and growth among the children and families we serve.
"The work I'm doing now (helping kids find jobs in the community) is a gift," another school staffer said. I'm able to work with kids at a point at which they're ready to give back to their community."
The bunny, too, was a parting gift from a Laraway youth transitioning to independence. There was no candy inside---this did not detract from the sweetness of the gesture from a young person walking a road toward healing and independence.
No comments:
Post a Comment