Book of Dreams: How you can help heal others
As the year closes and our day of thanks morphs into wishes for peace on earth and happy tidings for a new year, many of us reflect on the goodness people can have in their hearts. And we pause and wonder, how can we give, why do we want to give?
The answer to the latter is we are better people in our generosity. For some of us, this is expressed through tikkun olam. Others, sadaqat. Or part of paramita, or dana. In our religions and culture, as we strive to be good, we value helping and loving our neighbor.
At The Bee, we embrace this spirit in Book of Dreams.
And that’s one answer to the former. Through The Bee’s annual Book of Dreams and your donations, you have, for more than 30 years, tried to bring some measure of comfort to those less fortunate, or in need, or just hoping for a sliver of joy to brighten their holidays.
Last year, your donations provided a recliner for a woman who craved a good night’s sleep. High-tech glasses for a man to see clearly the faces of his daughter and grandchildren. A tricycle for a 12-year-old girl with cerebral palsy. Book of Dreams helped local organizations boost the flagging spirits of people with simple wishes.
You read the stories, were moved, and donated more than $140,000. You can help again this year. For the next three weeks, we will unfold 12 stories with simple requests for gloves for the homeless, shoes for refugee children, water bowls for pets of fire evacuees.
Today, Patricia Macht, a correspondent who cares deeply about lifting up those who need a hand, writes about the request for warm clothing at Sacramento’s Capitol Park Hotel Temporary Shelter. “Sometimes making a big difference in a person’s life is as simple as a woolen cap,” she writes. You will find inviting images by Randy Pench, working with Lezlie Sterling, our visuals editor who shares Pat’s commitment to journalism that helps us build better lives.
Book of Dreams springs to life each year because of a collaborative effort at The Bee. The kind Steve Briggs, Linda Brooks, Brian Wong and Terri Yamagata help us all coordinate with the Sacramento Region Community Foundation to shepherd your donations. We want you to know you soothed the souls of others, eased their struggle, brought them joy, and for you to find, maybe, solace in being able to peer into the eyes of your loved ones, embrace, and say, I care about you, and I care about making your world a better place.
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