People
Becoming a Blessing
“Don’t just count your blessings, be the blessing other people count on.” – Anonymous
Anitra loves to make people smile. She is generous with compliments and is always looking for the good in others. Along with that, she keeps a good knock-knock joke or two in her pocket, which is a sure way to encourage laughter.
“I like to make people happy,” Anitra says. “It makes me feel good!”
Anitra is also a creative person. She loves to sing and make music. She also enjoys colouring and crafts, especially making jewelry. Being a generous soul, Anitra specifically makes beaded jewelry for people with their name on it. She loves the reaction she gets when she gives these gifts.
“People are always surprised but they love it,” Anitra says.
Anitra receives support from Communitas’ Community Inclusion services. Karin is one of her community inclusion workers. The two spend time together going for walks and visiting the library, often meeting friends along the way. They also volunteer at the Fraser Valley Humane Society, where they spend cuddle-time with the resident cats.
But the most creative way they have found to combine Anitra’s love for crafts, music, and blessing others is to schedule visits at various homes facilitated by Communitas.
“We find out the names of the people living in the home and then Anitra will make a personalized piece of jewelry for each person,” Karin says.
Anitra also colours pictures for each one and then puts the beadwork and picture into a gift bag. When they arrive at the home, Anitra distributes the gifts and enjoys watching their reactions. Then, Karin and Anitra will spend some time singing with everyone. It’s an outing filled with smiles and laughter.
“I love doing this,” Anitra says.
Since Anitra has been doing this for a little while, Karin says the generosity has become contagious. People will now bless Anitra with craft supplies so that she can make more gifts.
“My brother works at the MCC store and often gets beads for me,” Anitra says.
One of Karin’s co-workers also gave Anitra a large container with fuse-beads that can be made into various objects like key-chains or fridge magnets. This has given Anitra the opportunity to learn a whole new craft, which she thoroughly enjoys.
As she shares her stories, it is clear from the huge smile on Anitra’s face that she has come to truly love being a blessing to others; and that’s something others can count on.
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