Recently the ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) New Apartment Kit (NAK) team learned of a very touching and generous gift they were receiving. A friend of one of our volunteers is a Catholic woman of the old school who felt giving up candy and wine for Lent wasn’t really good enough. So, she purchased one item a day for the ILYA NAK kids. Now that Easter has passed, she will deliver the 40 items to our volunteer to prepare another basket for a youth getting their first apartment after aging out of foster care.
This was such a heart-warming surprise gift… particularly from someone who isn’t a church member/friend but rather someone who wanted to do something meaningful as her practice for Lent. As our volunteer said in telling this story… “We do not choose our gifts, they come as surprises.” What a gift this is! Not only the items being donated but the love and caring it demonstrates. So moving!!