Hannah's Socks • warm feet, warm hearts

"Not what we say about our blessings but how we use them is the true measure of our thanksgiving." –W.T. Purkiser

As two volunteers and I were handing out socks this past Saturday, this recently read quote came to my thoughts. It's easy for many of us to say what we are thankful for at least once a year at Thanksgiving time, and some of us may even declare our thankfulness for the whole month of November -- as some friends who are on Facebook have been doing this past month.

But how easy is it for us to actually demonstrate our gratitude and share that thankfulness with others? When I first started going to the Downtown Library with Hannah's Socks co-founder Doris Turner, I was a little nervous. I wasn't sure what to expect from the experience of handing out socks to a large group of "homeless people."

But I have realized what an opportunity it is for me to share my blessings with those who are in need -- whether it has been the physical act of giving a pair of socks, sharing a smile, or carrying on a full conversation to begin a friendship with someone new -- I can share my thankfulness with others through my time spent volunteering with Hannah's Socks!

As one woman received her new socks this past Saturday, she sincerely stated, "Thank you! Thank you for remembering us!"

How will you use your blessings in the year to come?

Learn about volunteering with Hannah's Socks.

Lisa volunteers regularly with our Toledo-area team and shares her experiences in a weekly feature called "Volunteer Diary." Newsletter subscribers get to read her posts first.