Anda Cabrera

Good Will Knows No Barrier

I arrived in this country four years ago from Romania. I was ten when the communist regime fell, so I don’t remember first-hand all the hardships that my family and the nation went through. But I do know the stories about families struggling to put food on the table, including my own. There were long lines to food-stores at the end of which you could find a stale loaf of bread, maybe some soy-salami or, many times – nothing.

The last ten years of communism were the worst. That’s when Ceausescu (the communist leader) started a process of totally reimbursing the foreign debt even if this meant further impoverishing the Romanian citizens. He put a cap on everything from electricity to bread.  People had money but there was nothing they could buy. Peasants were not allowed to sacrifice the animals they raised. Everything belonged to the state. I could go on with examples from this failed utopia, but this is not the time for that. 

What we need now, is the same thing that helped families like my own thrive and find happiness even living under one of the cruelest political systems: community spirit. Back then we didn’t have an organization like United Way to lead the way; it was extended families, friends and neighbors reaching a hand to each other, even if sometimes it meant bending the laws of the iron state.

But what a great humanitarian tradition the US has! The spirit of giving time and resources to help the ones in need defines this nation. I feel privileged to have experienced this spirit from within, as a staff member of United Way of Western Connecticut. Every day I am touched by stories of people reaching out to strangers in these exceptional times.

So please…. take five to give 5 and when you do it be confident that actions like these are the ones that will strengthen the nation more than any stimulus bill.

Anda Cabrera
Administrative Assistant
United Way of Western Connecticut

Learn more about Take Five to Give 5 at:
http://www.TakeFivetoGive5.org

Comments

[Michael Johnston]

As Anda's story so movingly reminds us, we are blessed to live in a society where we have so much. Yet we sometimes take our wonderful history of philanthropic giving for granted. People all around us are in need and it's all of our responsibility to help. Don't think that someone else will help - if everyone thinks that way, people will continue to be in desparate need. Just take a few minutes to tell a few friends and think about whether you can spare $5 for someone who is need of shelter or a warm meal.

Thanks Anda for reminding us how much we have and how much we can do if we work as a community.