I got involved with Wish a Fish here on Tidal Fish years ago. At first - it was a lot of work but now it's almost all fun. People tease me that it's my second job but I love helping out.
I say almost but not always. When I first was involved - one family had to cancel out at last minute. I told the father we would hold a spot for them next year - he thanked me - than explained the cancer had won , his 9 year old daughter had passed. That was reason they had to cancel.
Now for reason I type this.
Received a few donations in the mail in the last few days - in memory of a young boy who died out of state.
He loved to fish and his family wanted to somehow share his passion with other children. One of their friends told them about Wish a Fish and the family asked donations be sent here.
Wish a Fish sometimes receives donations ( in lieu of flowers ) when someone involved in fishing dies but they have always been much older. Hit hard talking to the boy's aunt - she called to verify the address of WAF. I won't lie - my eyes teared up when she told me he was buried with a fishing rod in his casket.
I assured her every penny will go towards providing a day of fun / fishing for other kids this July. Some of the WAF volunteers made an awesome DVD showing the families having fun - I plan to send his family one , perhaps it will ease their grief a touch.
Even after all these years - I still get excited when a check for WAF arrives. Each one gets us closer to our yearly goal and let's us really treat the 30 or so families to a full blown event.
I'll deposit these checks tomorrow - really wish they never had to be written. One of the rare times I've felt working with WAF sucks.
I say almost but not always. When I first was involved - one family had to cancel out at last minute. I told the father we would hold a spot for them next year - he thanked me - than explained the cancer had won , his 9 year old daughter had passed. That was reason they had to cancel.
Now for reason I type this.
Received a few donations in the mail in the last few days - in memory of a young boy who died out of state.
He loved to fish and his family wanted to somehow share his passion with other children. One of their friends told them about Wish a Fish and the family asked donations be sent here.
Wish a Fish sometimes receives donations ( in lieu of flowers ) when someone involved in fishing dies but they have always been much older. Hit hard talking to the boy's aunt - she called to verify the address of WAF. I won't lie - my eyes teared up when she told me he was buried with a fishing rod in his casket.
I assured her every penny will go towards providing a day of fun / fishing for other kids this July. Some of the WAF volunteers made an awesome DVD showing the families having fun - I plan to send his family one , perhaps it will ease their grief a touch.
Even after all these years - I still get excited when a check for WAF arrives. Each one gets us closer to our yearly goal and let's us really treat the 30 or so families to a full blown event.
I'll deposit these checks tomorrow - really wish they never had to be written. One of the rare times I've felt working with WAF sucks.