We Make A Life In What We Give
If you're inspired by Lindsey's experience, please consider donating to Wigs for Kids through your Charitable Gift Fund under “Wigs For Kids, Inc.” (Tax ID 34-1749587) or at www.wigsforkids.org/monetary-donation.
If you don’t have a Charitable Gift Fund, contact us today to learn how we can enhance and strengthen your existing charitable giving.
I’ve decided to donate my hair with the hope that it will help a child struggling with an illness.
As your Paraplanner and Client Services Lead at Open Window, I’m fortunate to have a full-time but flexible schedule that allows me to explore giving back through volunteering.
I previously committed to a year of service with Senior Outreach Services, a UNR program that matches volunteers with home-bound, low-income, seniors in need of a friend. I visited my match at her home every Friday for a few hours for two years. Unfortunately, my friend passed away during the early stages of the pandemic. While processing my friend’s death and the heightened caution regarding seniors and COVID-19, I decided it was time for me to find a new way I could make a difference.
I knew one thing for certain, it felt good to make a big, positive impact in another person’s life.
It was around that same time that an old neighborhood friend of mine shared a heartbreaking story regarding her 12-year-old daughter. We’ll call her Lily. Up until the pandemic, Lily was a model human: a straight-A student, she volunteered in her church, loved gymnastics, and happily cared for her five younger brothers and sisters.
Lily’s life changed drastically. She began to suffer tremendously as she developed an anxiety disorder called Trichotillomania. One of the symptoms of Trichotillomania is the compulsive pulling out of hair. Her condition worsened to the point that she had started to bald.
Credit: Jessica Olah / Verywell
On top of the anxiety that Lily was trying to manage, she now had to worry about judgment from her peers as she prepared to attend seventh grade with large patches of hair missing. As the pandemic finally waned and the return to a social life began to loom, with most of the world yearning to see friends and family again, Lily was fearful.
As a child, I was obsessed with my long hair. It was a quality that I believed defined me. It would have been truly devastating to me to lose that sense of security to an illness.
After hearing of Lily’s struggle, I decided to give an important part of myself to another person towards helping with their suffering.
And here I am, two years later keeping my commitment to donate my hair to a child in need!
I was able to donate 18 inches of my hair to a child in need. I hope this helps give their confidence a boost.
Don’t get me wrong: It was scary to cut all of my hair off, but I felt like I was truly doing something meaningful for someone.
This is clearly a drastic change for me. I’m keeping in my mind and in my heart that the recipient of my hair did not have a choice and had to face the world on their own without the security of their hair. If they can do it, I can do it for them, too!
Is there a cause that is meaningful to you?
We love to hear about your passions and adventures, especially the daring ones! We see the stories you share as a sign of what is possible when we fulfill our vision of providing a stronghold for your family's finances.
Please share with us at www.openwindowFS.com/quicknote or directly with me the next time we see each other (or at Lindsey@openwindowFS.com and (775) 827-0670).
If you're inspired by Lindsey's experience, please consider donating to Wigs for Kids through your Charitable Gift Fund under “Wigs For Kids, Inc.” (Tax ID 34-1749587) or at www.wigsforkids.org/monetary-donation.
If you don’t have a Charitable Gift Fund, contact us today to learn how we can enhance and strengthen your existing charitable giving.
We make a living in what we get, but we make a life in what we give. - Winston Churchill