"What is Your Wish List?"

--by Hasifa, posted Mar 21, 2013

I currently work as the internal human resources manager for a large home improvement store. One of our core values is to give back to the community, and to make an emotional connection with our customers.

One afternoon, a lady stopped by my store and dropped off a letter. It was a very busy week for me so I did not get to the letter until a few days later. When I finally did, I noticed that it was from a nearby day care center. The director had written that they were low on funds, but needed certain things for the day care. I ran her letter by my store manager, and he agreed to a meeting with the day care director.

When we arrived at the center, the director gave us a tour. The facility was really in bad shape. The walls needed to be repainted, the ceiling tiles needed to be replaced. We went from room to room and every room was full of kids. They kept pulling and tugging at my dress and complimenting everything that I had on. We even went to the nursery, where I had to stop at every crib, say hello, and make faces to the babies. As they smiled back and stretched their little hands up at me, it was as if they knew that I was their new friend.

We continued on our tour and I found myself standing in the space that should have been the playground. It was bare. The funny thing was, even though there was nothing for the kids to play on, you could tell the kids were very happy to be there. They were smiling and laughing, as if nothing could hold them back from enjoying a designated space to play.

After our tour, I asked the director more about the kids.

She shared that all the children came from low income families. Most came from single parent homes. Because of this, with a cost as low as twenty dollars a day, the day care offers three meals every day, and even provides transportation for the children, since most of their parents do not have vehicles.

It was then that my boss looked her in the eyes with his arms folded and asked, “What is your wish list?”

On the ride back, I almost jumped out of my skin. My boss announced that I had full and complete control to renovate the day care.

At that moment, I was the proudest employee of my company. I thought about the difference we can make for those children. We will be giving them new appliances for the kitchen, replacing the ceiling tiles, putting fresh paint on the walls, building new restrooms, and-- most importantly-- we are going to build them a state of the art playground.

It's powerful to witness what can happen when people who care come together to create a system that supports giving.

2039 Reads

Posted by Hasifa
Mar 21, 2013
Comments (12)

Readers Comments

ThisWilPass wrote: Wow, Thats so nice of you and your boss.. Thank you very much for this.. Bless you
Take Care :)

jsmc10 wrote: I work in childcare myself, this struck such a chord with me, could you please give me their email address so I can ask them how I can go about starting something like this up myself, thanks so much for sharing :)

deactivated wrote: my friend u r rocking greaatttt,hip hip hurray.

Bluebell wrote: They could not have put that project in better hands, you are going to rock that place :-) Really happy for you, I could "see" you smiling when you were writing this post. Love and Light and Endless Blessings for you and for everyone at your work place.

FairyBubbles wrote: Your story has really touched my heart. It is so lovely that your boss is going to help those children and even better that you have control. Lots of love to you and your boss.

CanadianDad wrote: What a great story! Sounds like you've got a pretty rad boss too!

MakeSomeoneSmile wrote: How wonderful! :)

AURELIA wrote: So nice. Many children will spend so many hours there and it's great that it'll be clean and new....and especially nice that they will have a fun place to play :0) ~AURELIA

denisemj wrote: That is truly Amazing!

heartofflesh wrote: Thank you for caring and sharing attitude....you had been an angel to those children.......

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