One of the first charitable activities that I took part in back when I was in junior high school was helping to build a house in an underprivileged neighborhood in East Saint Louis, Illinois. I was helping to build the house as a part of one of the now famous Habitat for Humanity projects that are found all over the country. Before this time, I didn't know much about Habitat for Humanity, and I didn't really even know much about doing charity work. I had done some volunteer-type of work at my church back home, but I didn't realize the difference between volunteering at a Lenten fish fry and doing real work. I was lucky enough to be able to go to learn more about these real volunteer opportunities when I left the Catholic church and became a confirmed Lutheran. It seemed that with the Lutheran church, the youth at the church were taught a lot more about serving the underprivileged, disadvantaged, and needy across America. We ended up going to a youth gathering in Saint Louis, Missouri, and then traveled across the Mississippi River to Illinois and East Saint Louis to take part in the Habitat project. It was really a rewarding experience, and one that I don't think I'll ever forget. It's really amazing to get out there in the real world and see what some hard work and cooperation can really do to help people. As a result of the great experience that I had out in Illinois, I ended up participating in several other Habitat for Humanity projects over the years since then. I've done projects in Florida and back home in New York as well, all of which I've enjoyed as much, if not more than my first project.

Now comes the sad part of my story. A few years ago, a very good friend of mine's father passed away after a difficult battle with cancer. He had also been extremely active with Habitat for Humanity projects around the town where he lived. His daughter, the friend who I spoke about above, also enjoyed participating in such projects along with her father. When he passed away, the family, knowing how much he enjoyed doing charitable work with Habitat, decided to raise the money to build a house in his name and his honor. They just recently finished raising the money, and the house was built quickly. I was really very sad that I wasn't able to head back down to Florida to help out on the project. I think it would have been another very rewarding experience, especially one that was so personalized as building on a project for someone who I knew well. I heard all about the happenings and progress of the project from my friend as things moved along. So I guess I can now get to the point of my writing this particular post. I really think that it is a wonderful idea to participate and sponsor such types of charitable events and projects in the name of someone special. I think that it really gives honor to their name and lets the memory of their lives carry on into the future. In a project like Habitat, someone will always benefit from the shelter and protection of the house that is being built. Whoever it is who is living there at any given time will be able to remember their life as well and to be thankful for those who organized the project as well.

So, with all this said...the next time that you would really like to do something special...whether for someone who has passed or is still with us, consider doing something charitable that will last for lifetimes to come.