“I have a To-Do list for every day at work and the last thing on my list, for three and a half years now is: ‘Do something nice for someone else today!’ If you want to be happy, do something nice for someone else. It’s that easy.”
Hero Volunteer Carl
“Life gave me two lessons that changed me forever. The first one was three-and-a-half years ago. I was diagnosed with a potentially fatal illness. I faced the thought that I might not be around forever. I’d never really thought about it before. I mean, I know we are all going to die one day, but it seemed far off, so life brought it a little closer. It turned out, that the diagnosis was wrong. But by then, I was a different person. I had enough time to rethink my priorities in my life. I came to the conclusion that the most important things in life are love and helping others. The second lesson was when we lost our second child just a few hours after he was born. It was a tragic event. A loss that cannot be described in words…
I could never get my head around any children suffering and it became one of the most terrifying thoughts after becoming a father. I thought it has to be my priority to help in any way I can. I was already regularly donating to Barnardos but I wanted to do more, so I signed up for their bucket-collection day. I had never done anything like this before. I have to say I was a bit nervous. Thinking about standing on the street for eight hours, trying to get people to donate. But after the first hour, I got more comfortable and soon it became an amazing social event. I would just say, “Hi!” or “Good morning!” And people would be like: “Hi! Oh is this for Barnardos?” It felt like everyone knows the work they do! Everyone knows how important it is and people stop by, donate and often stay for a chat. The time flies by. I’ve done it for three years now and I love every minute of it! People say volunteering is working for free, I would rather call it free therapy.”
“I have a To-Do list for every day at work and the last thing on my list, for three and a half years now is: ‘Do something nice for someone else today!’ If you want to be happy, do something nice for someone else. It’s that easy.”
It’s Barnardos National Collection Day this Friday the 13th! Volunteers will be out shaking their buckets all day and this year they have cashless donating!
Barnardos volunteers will have a Bucket, with a QR code for cashless donating – simple scan your phone and follow the steps on your phone!
Please give what you can and help support vulnerable children and families all across Ireland.
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