Having Hope, Specifically for Kids Charity of Tampa Bay !  
By Michelle Boyd
 
“Having hope means that one will not give in to overwhelming anxiety, a defeatist attitude, or depression in the face of difficult challenges or setbacks. Hope is more than the sunny view that everything will turn out all right; it is believing you have the will and the way to accomplish your goals.”  -  Daniel Goleman’s Emotional Intelligence, wisdom quoted by Doris Kearns Goodwin in her study of Lincoln and his Cabinet, Team of Rivals.
 
I came across this quote last night and for a brief second it served as a mini epiphany of sorts.  We all want to change the world, but so many of us slack when it comes to acting upon it. I’m guilty as charged—I have goals in my personal life, my job, and volunteering and sometimes they get put on the back burner.
 
One of the non-profits we support at High Hopes in High Heels, Kids Charity of Tampa Bay (KCOTB), pulls at my heartstrings. KCOTB is an organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life for foster children and foster families. After years of involvement in areas of direct service for children that have been abused, neglected or abandoned, this group of community leaders decided that an organization was needed that could focus on areas of service that are less directly funded by the state or federal government, yet still provided support in areas of critical need and life improvement. These people believed in “more than the sunny view that everything will turn out all right.”
 
Raising funds and developing resources, both in-kind and monetary, that directly affect these areas of critical need is the primary focus of KCOTB. I want to help improve the quality of life for these children too, but how? I work full time, have a boyfriend I need to pay attention to every now and then (kidding), and I’m working on numerous activities outside of work each weekend. Well, today I woke up and took one hour out of my morning to go shopping for 60 deserving children. One hour, $6 at Big Lots, and now I’ve got 60 Halloween goody Bags for the Fall Festival we’re hosting on October 22nd.
 
I’m pledging to do more in the upcoming year and if I want something to change, I have to act upon it. Whether that be in my personal life, my job, or volunteering and making a difference – If I want to see something done, I’m doing it.  It doesn’t take much, but it does take a joint effort, especially in this particular case: We’ve all got busy schedules and there are 60 Tampa Bay children in need!
 
We need both volunteers AND donations for October 22nd. They aren’t more than a few dollars a piece and will bring 60 smiles to 60 deserving kids! We’ve got a list of needs— Sign up for something if you haven’t already!!!! You’d be surprised at what joy a cool plastic Halloween Spider Ring, at just $0.05, will bring to a child’s day!