It's All About Making A Difference

You know me. I like to do things that make differences in this world. And I like to write about people and organizations that make a difference. The week before last, I wrote about Hilton, Daren and Jacques - (3 guys making an enormous difference). My blog got over 1,200 hits - and Hilton was inundated with "fanmail".

This week, I am writing about a Toronto-based charity called Ve'ahavta.

Disclosure: I receive no remuneration from them and nor was I asked to write this post.

So here's the email I got. No doubt they sent this to hundreds, if not thousands of people. More the better, as far as I am concerned.



First, watch this 2 minute Youtube video clip at http://bit.ly/xsIUFJ to understand what they do. It's incredible. It really is. It's heartbreaking - makes a lump in your throat.

Run by diminutive Peter Frampron-esque looking Avrum Rosensweig, the organization strives to make the world a better place. It does lots of things, but nearest and dearest to my heart is the excellent work they do on Toronto's cold and foreboding streets to the thousands of homeless and displaced peple that call the street their home.

Now, back to the video. It's real. It's compelling. It's bold. Most importantly, this stuff happens - and it can --- and does --- happen to ordinary people like you and me. In fact, this kind of stuff happens all the time. I watched it once. I watched it again. I got a lump in my throat - and it's making we want to give more than I am right now.

No doubt many of us, if not most, have children. We tend to treat them well. And for the most part, our children are very comfortable. Yeah, they want to go to more hockey games than they do. (at least mine does), want the latest fashions and complain when they don't get them, (at least mine does).

For the most part, my kids had no idea what happens in the real world - until I took them out on Ve'ahavta's Mobile Response to Hunger van. It goes out 5 nights a week, loaded with food - and wherever there's a homeless person they stop - give them food and a few minutes of company and move onto the next person they find on the streets. There's no shortage of homeless souls.

I've taken my children out on the van a few times. It's not a light-hearted evening, nor is it necessarily pleasant. You're dealing with the marginalized. The homeless. The displaced. But wow!!! It opens your eyes. The homeless are real people too - just like the rest of us.

And this is what the video is all about. This is what Ve'ahavata is all about. It's a low profile organization that is doing miracles every day. It is changing people's lives. It's about doing the right thing.

Want to show your children (12 years and older) life's harsh realities? Just take them for a few hours on Ve'ahavta's van. Next time they won't grumble so much when chicken's for dinner and they wanted pizza. I know my kids don't grumble quite so much anymore. And every time they grumble - I remind them they have a roof over their head - and comforts - and a warm bed - and food - and shelter - and good lives - and love --- and, and, and, - the list is endless.

To note that one of the charity's supporters is a company called Distributel. They've promised to donate $1 per Youtube view. As of time of writing, the Youtube piece has been viewed 1,785 times --- make it more