Holiday Toy Drive Brings Sidewalk Hospitality Magic
If you were there, you felt it.
The photos from the morning offer only a narrow glimpse into the energy and buzz of the morning. But they’re the best thing we have to try to demonstrate the warmth of the conversation in the room.
It started with an email.
Parker, a 3rd grader at PRM, decided she wanted to host a Toy Drive for Ronald McDonald House. Her mom reached out to see if Community Happens Here could host it. As soon as I heard the idea, I realized it was positively perfect for our final Sidewalk Hospitality of the year.
On Saturday morning, Parker and her mom, Rachel, showed up dressed for the season, with plenty of presents and wrapping paper in tow. Our usual student volunteers were there to create hospitality.
Then the magic began.
Friends and relatives of Rachel and Parker, from all walks of life, began arriving with toys in hand. School friends and parents mingled with other visitors.
More neighbors arrived.
A local teacher, Tamara, who taught my daughter, Amelia, in 7th/8th grade and currently teaches of one of our regular student volunteers, Max. It was a joy to see Tamara, and to catch her up on all of Amelia’s recent doings.
The volume level grew as the delighted squeals of little ones were added to the mix. Some popcorn was spilled, then cleaned up in true Montessori style. Simon, Tamara’s child, took the lead in sweeping the spill. (He made sure to inform me that he is “really good” at sweeping, and does it as a job in his classroom.)
I can confirm: He did great!
Meanwhile, handmade CHH holiday cards were being created by Ellis, Walter, Megan, Tyler, Artem and Clint, while they discussed the state of the world, education and other topics of interest. Kelli brought some projects she was sewing for her preschool art class, and updated Tyler on her son who was a former Teen Barista and is now a freshman at college.
While each of these small encounters were not in themselves earth-shattering, they brought people closer together and helped us connect across difference. I met some new people who would have not come into my life. Who knows what seeds were sown, even on a cold day?
Perhaps hot cocoa is fertile soil for creating the world we want to see.
Happy Holidays!