Day 52-- Treats-4-Troops high schools collection - OMG

"There is a time to let things happen and a time to make things happen."
---Hugh Prather

Today was the big collection day for Treats-4-Troops at two area high schools. We got tons of candy at both locations, Walt Whitman High School and Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School. It was possible to do because of the generous volunteers in MoverMoms -- women and kids who took time out of their day to man the collection point.

Given that it was pouring much of the morning, volunteers had to go out in the rain and up to people's cars as they passed us their candy. But no one seemed to mind getting wet for this good cause - it's all so inspiring to me!

And speaking of inspiring - so many kids came and clutched their candy before giving it to us for the troops. Apparently many kids went out trick or treating this year with the intention of keeping some for themselves and giving the rest to soldiers.

I just love that concept - the idea that it's not all about getting more, more, more for me, me, me, but rather about getting some for oneself and the rest for other people.

Then there was the WTOP News stories about the project - those yielded so many inquiries about dropoff points beyond our little Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Potomac niche, as well as providing the opportunity to add a new dropoff point in Clarksburg. I am so pleased that interest has spread far and wide, though I feel bad that we don't have more places for collection. Maybe we'll expand next year....

Meanwhile, the messages and feedback that I've gotten has been so heart-warming. People really are trying to donate their candy to this cause. One woman in Prince George's County is having her husband bring the candy downtown to his office near Union Station, so that he can then come to my husband's office near Metro Center and give him the candy to bring to my house - wow, I'm not sure I'd go through all that effort, but I really admire it!

Anyway, the power of many working together is being proven once again today...and I'm feeling like all the planning was worthwhile, though it's tough to resist the Almond Joys sitting in my garage at this very moment!