This is Why – Assistance League

Usually on Tuesdays the same two gardeners arrive to mow and trim my yard. I noticed a broken sprinkler and went out to let them know it needed repair. That’s when I met the new guy, a big kid around 18-19 years old. He greeted me with a shy smile and wearing a pair of glasses that was missing an arm to hold them in place. I told him about the sprinkler, and he said he would look into it and I went back into the house.
I could not get the image of his broken glasses out of my mind. How could I not address it when I am a member of Assistance League Santa Clarita, an organization which provides vision screening and new glasses to students through our iCare4kids icare for kids program? So, I went back outside.
“Hey, may I ask you a question?” and he nodded yes. “Are those your only glasses? Do you have plans to get them fixed or to get a new pair?” He quickly responded, “I can see o.k.”
He hesitated and then added, “I can’t get a new pair right now because I need to help my family first.”
I said, “I’m only asking because I volunteer for an organization that provides free glasses to students. Are you in school?” He answered, “Yes, I go to COC.” “May I have your name and phone number? I would like to help arrange new glasses for you.” His face immediately lit up.
“I could get new glasses for free?” “Yep!”, I answered. I gave him a piece of paper and a pen. He wrote is name, Jose, and his number in small print at the bottom of the page. For some reason, the fact he didn’t write on the top of the page but at the bottom in small letters, jabbed at my heart. Handing me back the paper, I headed back to my house to start the referral process for a pair of new glasses. As I got to the door, I turned and saw this young man with a huge smile run over to his fellow gardener and excitedly say, “I’m going to get new glasses!”
A few days later, I heard that Jose had an appointment to get his new glasses! It honestly brought tears to my eyes as I thought, THIS IS WHY. This is why I volunteer my days to work in our shop. This is why I donate items I no longer need to the shop. This is why I am so proud to say, “I am a member of Assistance League Santa Clarita!!!”