Yesterday I did some fundraising work for an Australian suicide/crisis helpline. The work I did was based in quite an expensive store and people could choose to come to my stand and pay a couple of dollars to have their christmas presents wrapped.
It did not turn out how I thought it would.
Within the first half hour I was almost crying and was so tempted to just pack up and run.
For the entire three hours that I volunteered my time, I was shouted at, frowned at, talked down to and ignored.
It was actually horrible. The majority of people who donated only came over to get their gifts wrapped. They didn’t read any of the information on the table but rather chose to point out my errors in how I wrapped their gifts. “Could you get a fresh piece of paper? That one is really creased?” “Could you just tuck that corner in there? No THAT corner! Oh for Gods sake” “Could you redo that ribbon please? Actually you know what? Don’t worry about it I will do it myself!” These are just some of the comments I received. Some of the gifts were hundreds of dollars and the people who bought them were very well dressed and looked very well off. It really saddened me that these people couldn’t take 5 minutes to think of someone else for once.
A girl around my age (perhaps early 20’s) came in and asked me to wrap a gift that she had bought from a different store. I asked for her receipt but she did not have one. I then told her that although I did not suspect her, I could not wrap the gift because there was no proof of purchase. She was with one friend and her boyfriend. She then says “Oh what the hell, whatever then! F**ing forget it!” I was there volunteering my time. I was trying to raise money for people with depression like myself. I was trying to bring some hope for those of us with this debilitating illness. I cried for an hour last night because of that girl. The fact that she was so cold hearted. I don’t care that she didn’t even give money. I wish she could of just given a smile. It would have been enough for me.
Unzip. 
How awful. The that people can be so greedy and selfish. I’m going through a serious depression too. And thank goodness for people like you who care and try to do something. On a day that is supposed to be about peace on earth good will toward men, all people think about is gimmie gimmie. I wish I had the courage to volunteer like you did. Christmas always brings out the worst in people. Hang in there.Christmas is the birthday of the Christ child. And He won’t abandon you.
Reblogged this on Shania's song. and commented:
why aren’t some of the billions of dollars spent at Christmas used to help people who really need it? Like those who are suicidal, homeless and alone? It seems to be about flaunting their wealth. And punishing those who don’t have it. Well, it’s not about money. Forget about gifts. and greed. Jesus told us to help these people! Going through a major depression myself, all the gifts in the wolrd don’t matter if you feel forgotten and alone. Half the money wasted on Black Friday would house hundreds of homeless people. That is what Jesus told us to do. People get into debates about religion and if The Lord was born on the twenty fifth. And yet those He told us to care for are suffering and dying alone. who cares about inflateables or lights< trees or parties. Jesus cares about those who ne3ed us most. Their living circimstances break his heart. And it's His birthday not ours.