Remember Tough Times and Wanting to Help
It’s funny how certain things bring up memories that are incredibly emotionally strong and vibrant. Such is the case for me recently in reading an article in the New York Times regarding the baby formula shortage.
The national issue of shortages with baby formula have permeated the front pages of newspapers, websites and lead many newscasts. And while this is not unknown, an article in the New York Times highlighted a group of mothers who are blessed with an excess supply of breastmilk donating the extras to parents who are struggling to feed their children. One mother is classified as a “super-producer.” She’s already donated nearly 2400 ounces of breast milk to the New York Milk Bank. Others are highlighted in the article as doing everything in their power, mainly through nonprofits and the idea of philanthropy, for mothers and fathers who are struggling with this shortage challenge.
This rings true for me, as well as my wife. Our firstborn, now just over nine years old, had a myriad of health challenges in his first 18 months. One of which was immense restrictions on dietary products. For the first 12 months, while it took some hospitalizations in time, we were able to figure out, with an outstanding medical team, that he only could have breast milk. And my son is blessed beyond belief to have the mother but he does. My wife pumped 10 to 12 times a day, most of those while feeding him because he also had swallowing issues. But there was such a genuine fear that she would run out of breastmilk. The champion that she is, she drank hundreds of ounces of water a day and made sure that she could take care of our son. But that fear lives deep inside of us.
I think I tend to think and write about, and speak about, philanthropy from a more formalized perspective. Nonprofit organizations. The idea of philanthropy isn’t formal as it is just wanting to help others. To making a difference. How cool is it to see so many people in the middle of a genuine crisis for families with small kids step into the breach and help. At the most common level, this is the essence of what philanthropy truly is.
