I have just learned about this incredible program, and, if you aren’t familiar, I must share. Sparrow Clubs is a program started in the 1990s to help children or teens in medical need. Schools and organizations adopt a child, or “sparrow,” for the year and help raise funds for the family’s medical expenses. But here’s where it gets even better. The funds are actually donated by a local organization, but are only earned once the children from the organization do volunteer work in their community.
There is so much to love about this program, and the first time I watched a video, I didn’t even realize hot tears were pouring down my face. The sparrows are not only given assistance with their expenses, but they also have a community of support behind them. The children or teens who are volunteering take on a new purpose and are often opened up to the idea of helping others. And then, the community itself is benefitting from all the hours and hours of community service given. It is definitely a win-win-win situation, and my heart is lit up to know programs like this exist. It looks like this program seems to mostly be in Oregon, but I do also see some locations in Washington and Arizona. I hope to see programs like this spread. We need more of this in our world.
While there are many videos, here is a sampling:
Sparrow Club: 25 Years
The Sparrow Effect
Trailer
In Their Own Words