Sunday, January 18, 2015

MLK National Day of Service #WhyIVolunteer #SelflessSunday

Gus:  Tomorrow is Martin Luther King's National Day of Service.  Mama has the day off from work and will be going to Great Plains SPCA to volunteer.  They aren't doing anything special at GPSPCA tomorrow so Mama felt this would be a good time to share one of her most memorable days as a volunteer.

It was April 1, 2013.  Mama had to work that day.  She had planned to go home after work but something told her she should take her volunteer clothes with her.  After work she was really tired, but something told her she should go volunteer at Great Plains.  So she went.  While she was there, the director from a local hospice called the shelter and asked if they could fulfill a dying man's last wish.  He had always had cats and he wanted to pet a cat one last time.

GPSPCA's Chief Operating Officer asked Mama if she would go.  For those of you who know Mama, you know this kind of thing really isn't in her comfort zone.  Mama was the only cat volunteer there and she wasn't going to let the man down.  She put Mimi, an adoptable cat, in a carrier and headed to the hospice facility.

Once Mama and Mimi got there, the staff rushed them back to the man's room.  Mama let Mimi out of her carrier.  She needed to investigate a bit and get a feel for the room.  Then Mimi laid on the gentleman's bed.  The man was too weak to pet Mimi on his own.  His daughter took his hand and pet Mimi as she purred.  Within a half hour the man passed away.

Mama was glad she heard the call and was able to help comfort the man as he passed on.  This is still her most memorable moment as a volunteer.

And what about Mimi?  She was the man's angel that day.  Mimi was rewarded a couple days later with her furrever home.   It is a great reminder that just because we are cats doesn't mean we can't serve others.  

Mimi

How do you or your human plan to spend tomorrow's MLK National Day of Service?


11 comments :

  1. I remember that day well. I'm so proud to know your mama, Gus, and to have known Mimi, too! They were both the man's angels that day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Kathryn! You are an angel yourself for many of the cats!

      Delete
  2. Why volunteering at Great Plains SPCA of course. Pat

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow - thanks for reminding me about this wonderful story. That was truly a "mitzvah" you did.

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a touching story. Your mama was in the right place at the right time for sure! This makes us even more excited for Sophie finishing her certification to be a therapy cat. We kitties sure can make a difference in people's lives! And so do the wonderful volunteers like your mom!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It would be so much fun being a therapy cat. Good luck on your certification, Sophie!

      Delete
  5. It's very heartwarming that you were able to help the man fulfill one of his last wishes. Petting a cat may seem like a simple request, but it was obviously very important to him.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Raven! Pets can make a huge difference in people's lives!

      Delete