MISSION: Autism Awareness with Warm Winter Friends

This mission? Melts my heart.  Getting younger people involved in the Secret Agent L Project makes my heart swell with love and pride.  I truly believe that the earlier we teach our youth about kindness, the more of a reality a healed world will be.  BIG THANKS to Affiliated Agent LA for recruiting some younger operatives!

DATE:
Friday, 28 January 2011

OPERATIVES:
Affiliated Agent LA
Junior Affiliated Agent M

LOCATION:
Heinz Field
Pittsburgh, PA

TIME:
not disclosed

Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote “The only true gift is a portion of yourself”. I have found that to be true through my volunteerism. I have found myself talking about “Secret Agent L” and wanting to enlist others to get involved, especially my high school volunteers. I think that volunteerism often starts from wanting to give back and from appreciating the kindness of others. I decided to have one of my students help me with my next mission.

On Friday night I was invited to attend the kickoff event for the upcoming Autism Speaks walk this summer and took one of students who has been so dedicated to helping students with autism in our school district. This young lady, my Junior affiliate agent helper M, has been a true inspiration to me of what is means to be a volunteer. I marvel at how much she gives of herself to help others on a daily basis. She will be heading off to college in the Fall to study special education, to dedicate her life to helping children with disabilities. I thought she might enjoy helping me in leaving a “warm winter friends” themed gift for an unsuspecting stranger to find.

I typed up a cute little note and paired it with a pair of cozy toe socks, warm beverages and a can of chicken noodle soup. The dinner that we were attending happened to be held at Heinz Field at the same exact time as the big STEELERS rally. We left the goodie bag near the entrance to Heinz Field and hoped that a hard core Steelers fan with frozen toes might find it on their way out of the stadium or one of the dedicated volunteers from Autism Speaks might find it on their way to their car. While we were at the dinner, my student volunteer and I were so moved by the families who struggle daily with autism. Many of the speakers shared how much it meant to them to have an organization like Autism Speaks to stand with them and to have caring and compassionate care from local agencies and volunteers.

As we were putting on our coats,we peaked out of the window to the sidewalk below and M exclaimed, “Hey look, the bag is gone”! It was fun to think who might have found our surprise. On the way home we brainstormed ideas for fundraisers and awareness activities for Autism Awareness Month in April and talked about ways to break through the apathy that we often see in kids M’s age. I think that sometimes it just takes a small act of warmth to break through the ice.

Affiliated Agent LA and Junior Affiliated Agent M, I am SO PROUD to have you on my team of agents.  Your thoughtfulness and creativity are incredible!  THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart!

And, of course, GO STEELERS!!!!