I spent yesterday at my local Tesco collecting money and selling pins for a friend's charity.
She set it up after she lost her DD to cancer. We met online as I lost my DD 4 years ago. I volunteered ages ago.
The day arrived and I was feeling a bit crap. It was my birthday and any 'special' day is very difficult now. My confidence was low and I was nervous about the whole thing.
Anyhoo. Tesco doesnt let you collect instore or even in the foyer, rattle a tin or say anything.
They were very friendly but I was stood next to the cashpoints and rubbish bin with DC5 in his pram and feeling a bit crap.
No-one was interested for ages. I dont blame them. Its hard to see what people are collecting for and if you go up and have a squint its hard to back off if you dont want to give
A women came up and put loads of change in my bucket. We chatted for a while and she asked about my DD (had her photo on my table). She told me about her DS and her job etc. Lovely lady. About an hour later she came back with a bunch of flowers and some chocolates for my birthday! She then watched my stuff while I went and fed DS.
How lovely was that?
I also met a couple of other women who chatted with me about DD and stuff and were lovely (if a little bonkers). I am one of those women who will chat in a bonkers way to people selling badges so its nice to know I am not alone
A man put a fiver in.
So although i didnt make hundreds I did collect about 40 quid and had a lovely reminder of how nice people can be.
It has also made me more determined to be nicer and less wrapped up in my own problems.
[pollyanna emoticon]