Grateful Girl Gives

I have always had a deep rooted desire to help those less fortunate than me. It all started the first time I came face to face with the reality of homelessness.

Growing up right outside the city of Charleston,SC I often witnessed people struggling with homelessness when we went downtown as a family. However, as a young child I never realized all of the struggles and the pain associated with homelessness. For the first time at age nine, I understood what it really meant to be homeless. Seeing the despondent look on a man’s dirtied face one afternoon of shopping, it struck me. This man who is just like me did not have access to a bath or clean clothes like me. He didn’t have a cozy bed to sleep in like me. He didn’t have an encouraging, loving family to come home to everyday like me. I realized that he possibly didn't even have food or water. From that day on, I was absolutely heartbroken to know that millions of people live lives very different from my comfortable life. Although the new knowledge of their struggles came with feelings of sorrow, it also taught me the lesson of gratitude. I started to appreciate the little things, right down to the bar of soap sitting in my shower. I had a new found well of gratitude for my beautiful life, and all I wanted was to share my bounty with those less fortunate. A couple years later, I remembered this dream of helping those that are less fortunate than me and created Grateful Girl Gives.

Grateful Girl Gives is a non-profit organization that specifically focuses on giving children in foster care systems and orphanages new, clean clothes. My mission is to help neglected children feel loved and bring them joy and comfort in tough situations with the clothing I collect and donate. When I was young, getting a new dress made me feel special, almost like I was a princess. That’s exactly why I want to give clothing to children in need, because in the midst of hardships, a new dress can be a light in a child’s life. I came up with the name Grateful Girl Gives because it reflects who I am and what I do.

I am so grateful for the many blessings presented in my life, and I want to bless those in need as well. I hope to keep working on Grateful Girl Gives as it is my passion, and I hope to change my community for the better through the act of donating clothes and spreading love to those who need it most.