The Mission: Make a difference

By Amber Stentzel

During this cold winter, it can be difficult not to complain about the freezing temperatures, though we must stop and think about those who can’t afford a jacket or don’t have shelter from the cold. Sometimes, it can feel like this issue is not a local one. Yet, it is happening, and if there is any chance that we can stop it within our community, then we should. Donating is a great way to make a difference.

Two weeks ago, it was below freezing outside, and I saw a girl shivering and talking to her friends.

Her friend asked her why she didn’t have a jacket, to which the girl replied, “My mom won’t buy me one.”

As a girl who has grown up not having to worry about being cold during winter or having food on my table, I felt ashamed for focusing on myself and not seeing what was going on around me. My friends and I talk about boys and the latest trends, when we should be talking about how we can help those in need. 

As a community, we cannot let these children, teens, adults and elderly freeze on the streets and starve. Even if it is a small act, such as giving one piece of clothing or a single dollar, one simple action can make a serious impact on someone's life. 

I was able to talk to Brennan Fulton, the executive director of the Mission Owasso Center. He gave me a better understanding of the wonderful things they are doing and how I can make a difference.

Photo of The Mission taken by Amber Stentzel

“We give all these items [food and clothing] away to anyone,” Fulton explained, “Clothing comes by donation. The only money we spend is on underwear and socks.”

Fulton emphasized that the center is a big corporation, but it doesn’t have enough advocacy in the community. If more people understood the needs of others, then they would want to help donate and become more aware of the things happening in our community. 

He explained his process of becoming the executive director and how it makes him feel to know he is helping people. Fulton is an example of doing something he is passionate about and not letting anything stop him. He explained how people don’t have to do much to help others; it’s the small things that add up. 

“It makes me feel grateful to be part of it all,” Fulton smiled. 

Sometimes it may seem that in order to donate, we need to give thousands of dollars and piles of clothes to donation sites, but even just one dollar or one piece of clothing can help someone in ways you can’t imagine. We just have to take the first step of doing the action. 

“Finding a food pantry and giving back either by giving your time by volunteering, giving advocation to the organization, donating money, or cleaning out your closet. Those are all very valuable.”

There are other non-profit organizations, such as the Salvation Army. It is a little bit farther away from Owasso, though it is an important place within communities around us. A man who volunteers at the Salvation Army helped me understand what was going on there.

“We don’t know what these kids go back home to; we don’t know if they have food at home or are being treated right,” he explained.

He just wants to help those in need. He doesn’t know exactly what their situation is or what they are going through, but he just knows that he wants to do something about it. As humans, we can be quick to judge others, but we don’t know their story, and we should put that judgment aside to help, when needed.

He explained how working with the families makes him and his peers feel, “It gives us a feeling of hope, knowing that we help these families with their costs.”

He has hope for these families that they will be able to sustain themselves from the support they have gotten from the Salvation Army. It gives the families hope that they will be okay. This small act of kindness gives many people optimism and comfort. 

“If only people saw the things that could be fixed,” he sighed.

Many things could be possible if only people would help.

It can be tempting to procrastinate making the effort and helping others. Sometimes it can be easy to just let life happen and push donating aside, saying, “I’ll donate later.” It is easy to say you are going to do something, but it's hard to do it. It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture, even the small actions make a difference. 

We need to see the bigger picture of what is happening to others. We need to make a difference. We need to donate.