KIssimmee - Children/Health

Layla Alazaway

As the days led up to my group's departure to Kissimmee, Florida my idea of Give Kids the World was only the images that had come from Cary's (who would be returning to the village for the second time) descriptions. I would never have imagined that the way Cary portrayed the village would be so very accurate and yet not enough. My first day had left me with some of the strongest sensations of heartbreak I had ever felt in my heart. However, this was not the type of heartbreak that left you crying and eating chocolate for days after a breakup. This was the kind of heartbreak that made my heart want to reach out to the families that I came across. All ten of us spent the morning volunteering at the Gingerbread House (where families can gather and have food served to them cafeteria style) serving breakfast. As the morning went on, my heart progressively became more tender as feelings of compassion, sadness and warmth tore my heart apart. The realization of coming across so many grateful people at once completely overwhelmed me. One of the volunteers could simply tell a father that is struggling with the squirming child in his hands, "I'll carry that for you, sir." and the appreciation they feel flashes through their eyes, if only for a second. I found that there is a common understanding between the volunteer and the guest, we are appreciated and no words have to be said. Now, not to say that it is not nice to hear the words thank you! My favorite moment of that morning was when I had carried a tray for a man that was wearing an Illinois shirt. Upon noticing his shirt, we immediately struck up a conversation about my hometown, Chicago, as we walked to his table. It was fairly obvious from the way that the man spoke that he was extremely happy to be speaking to someone that just wanted to hold a conversation. As I set his tray down, he thanked me and I turned to him smiling and told him it was wonderful meeting him and to have a great day. It was when I turned around ready to walk away that I felt a hand on my shoulder. The man had stood back up, looked me in the eyes and said, "No, really thank you." This is the moment where my heart completely exploded of contentment. After that I spent another six minutes continuing my conversation with the man. I asked myself right then and there, how often will I come across a moment like that? Give Kids the World is a world full of happiness for the children, families and the volunteers.