The Gift of a Shiny Green Teapot

One afternoon as I was volunteering at our resale store, an elderly woman came in. She was gently carrying a box filled with items, each one wrapped in light tissue paper.
She asked, “I have a donation, may I give it to you?” I answered, “Of course, what do you have?” She revealed a delicate teapot with cups and saucers all made of china. The teapot and cups were emerald green with shiny silver handles. The set was simply gorgeous. As we took a few seconds to gaze down at the contents of the box, she sighed, saying, “These were my mother’s, and it’s time for me to start letting things go. I wanted to donate it to your organization because of all the good work you do for our community.” I thanked her and carried the box to our back room.
A few days later, I was again behind our counter when a young mother with a baby on her hip came up to pay for the items she had selected. In her basket was the emerald teapot and the cups with the shiny silver handles. My face brightened as I told her the story behind the teapot. With a shy smile she said, “I shop here because I find treasures that I take home and love.”
As she walked out, I thought about what a wonderful gift the elderly woman had carried in her box of items wrapped up in tissue. Her donation gave the china a new life in a young family’s home. Her gift also gave in other ways, because the proceeds from the sale are used to touch the lives of children in our community through new school clothes, shoes or eyeglasses.
As this season of gratitude and giving comes upon us, I think of the Assistance League – Resale Store as a place where we are grateful for all of the donations our community provides and the gifts we pass on to others.
For more information please visit our website: www.assistanceleaguesantaclarita.org.