One Dollar One Meal

Helping people you love will bring you happiness.

Giving something to people who need help will bring you peace.

Aiding people who are in need will bring you joy.

Do you know why the Fathers, Brothers, Sisters are always at peace? Why they are always cheerful? They have obviously kept a secret from all of us for many years. Do you want to know what that is? Of course, the answer is that they love to engage in charity!

Have you ever seen the smiles of blind Vietnamese children when they receive a bar of chocolate or a bag of chips? It’s the most wonderful thing that I’ve ever seen. They smile widely, chuckle, and accept the gift gratefully with open arms.

Have you ever seen the happy faces of blind children who have warm homes in which to live, who live in a loving community, and who have all the necessities to pursue the lives they desire, so that they can truly become citizens who contribute their talents to the community?

All of these wonderful things happen because of us. We are the one who were and will continue to make this happen. We are the ones who will give them the sources of their happiness. I’m willing, able, and happy to make this happen by contributing my time, energy, and effort. My path to happiness is engaging in charity, because doing so brings me joy.

Let me share this with all of you: “It’s not only the blind children who receive benefits, but we do as well.” The benefits derived from charitable actions are countless.

Don’t we feel grateful for everything we have? We recognize all of our blessings and show our gratitude. Engaging in charity can eliminate our stress. Giving makes us feel happier and more cheerful. According to John Hopkins University and the University of Tennessee, charitable givers experience reduced rates of stress and lower blood pressure, so if any of you have high blood pressure, the more money you give, the lower your blood pressure will become. Thus, these activities benefit our health. Our minds and spirits become more balanced. Not only do we feel at peace, but we also become more fulfilled.

From a social perspective, we have the opportunity to explore the world, meet new people, make new friends, and build new relationships. Eventually, we will gain love and support for ourselves, our cause, and for the people around us.

We leave a legacy, we become better people, and we are good examples for others to follow. Most importantly, though, we are helping protect others and our community. The value we choose to add to the people around us makes a huge difference and can be a great influence, and don’t forget, we’ll also reduce our tax burden!

This past winter, I had the opportunity to travel to Vietnam. I was so blessed to be able to visit many centers throughout Vietnam and meet the blind children. Each time I went to a new center, I was filled with energy and happiness to see them. I wondered how I could travel from the South to the North of Vietnam, visit nine centers, and yet not feel tired. It was because I was filled with such passion at the time. I knew that I was having fun playing and talking with the children. I knew that I was giving a little helping hand to make their day joyful. In a way, adding value to the children benefitted me too. When I saw the children become joyful, it made me joyful. Whenever you’re passionate, you’re never tired, no matter how long you work. During the trip, I realized that there were many benefits of my trip, and not simply for me. I was raising awareness for the charity and for the blind children; I was giving them a happy day and presents. They were all overjoyed and thrilled to see me. As for me, I was able to have fun with the children and was blessed with a life-changing experience. Now, I have the opportunity to share this experience with all of you, so that together, we can make a brighter day and a brighter world.

In conclusion, I want to summarize the top ten great benefits you receive when you give and when you lend your hand to those less fortunate than you:

1. You will be grateful for what you have
2. You will be loved by others
3. You will be blessed
4. You will be stress-free
5. You will be healthier
6. Your mind and spirit will become one
7. You will be a better person and a good example for others to follow
8. You will make new friends
9. You will reduce your tax burden
10. Finally, yet importantly, you will leave a legacy