Dec. 7--Day 16

I have relocated to a new city in a new state and start a new job tomorrow. Lots of activity with gifts given and received since I started the challenge (including the new job and a temporary place to stay, among many gifts for which I am very grateful). Today I will go to a Bank of America branch to donate to the Jake French Fund.

I read a story in the newspaper yesterday about Jake French, a 24-year-old man in Dufur, Oregon who is trying to recover his life after being left a paraplegic from a freak assault by a former high school friend a year ago. If you Google him, there is also a video by KOIN TV in Portland about his story. Truly inspiring. Before the challenge, I would probably have ignored the chance to donate. Last week, I also donated $15 to the Lakewood Police Independent Guild fund for the families of four Lakewood, Washington police officers gunned down by an ex-con at a coffee shop on a Sunday morning while they were sitting there doing reports.

As a newspaper reporter trained to respond objectively to events in the news, it feels different and totally fine to allow myself to respond with giving to people in the news who are in need. I give thanks and feel gratitude to this program for giving me a new perspective. Thank you!