On Horizons for Youth gift drive

Standing at the shelter with fifteen boxes of clothing and everyday necessities, I was struck by something I had not fully anticipated -  a deep and humbling awareness of my own privilege. I have never had to wonder whether I would have a warm place to sleep or the basics i need to get through a day. Many young people my age have never known that certainty. That moment did not make me feel guilty. It made me feel responsible - responsible to keep showing up, to keep noticing, and to never take for granted what others are fighting simply to have. 

Empathy without actions is just a feeling. These experiences taught me that the smallest acts of showing up mean everything to someone who struggles or feels invisible.