The Power of Giving Back

Giving back, is a core part of many spiritual/religious practices and can make a positive impact in so many ways. In Buddhism “Dana” is selfless giving without expecting anything in return. It can bring a sense of purpose by serving those around you, and it shows up in positive ways in other areas of your life.

Years into my own yoga journey, I had become deeply interested in Yoga philosophy and Buddhist teachings, more than just yoga classes. I began to think about finding a way to give back.

In 2013 I volunteered Molly as a therapy dog with Delta Therapy. We passed the obedience test, and I began to make regular visits to the forensic hospital at Long Bay (the mental health facility at the jail in Sydney). She was an energetic dog, a rescue Sharpei/Border collie mix. Visiting aged care or a children’s hospital didn’t seem like the right fit.

Initially I was anxious. The metal detectors, the identity check, the locked doors, the high security, and high fences. Sometimes the young people I visited were heavily medicated and they would lock the door to a small meeting room leaving me with the patient, Molly and a security guard. But this was the best therapy! Being able to bond with molly and give her unlimited cuddles and pats… Other times we would go for a walk around the perimeter with a group chatting and taking turns with the leash or throw a ball in the yard. Many had owned dogs at some point, and I could see how excited they were. The staff once mentioned on my arrival that we were visiting an adolescent who had not seen a dog for 6 years. You could feel the joy in the room, it was such a beautiful memorable time. Therapy dogs offer the physical connection of a loving animal, and sometimes a moment of an everyday life experience that most of us take for granted.

We all give back regularly maybe without even noticing, daily in our homes at our kids school and in our community.  I believe that consciously giving back to help people in need can change your core perceptions. It can make you see another side of the world, put our “First World Problems” into perspective, making us feel more grateful. Sharing our time or the things that we have, to help improve the lives of people who are struggling can make us feel warm and fuzzy.

Sydney Food Share

I met with Frény in a small café in the inner west of Sydney. I had watched a video of her sharing food packs on Facebook the day before, so I immediately recognised her. She was lovely, many of the customers in the café stopped by our table for a friendly chat.

We shared stories, she had grown up in Calcutta India, her father looking after and making sure that over 85 families in their Indian community were well looked after with food clothes and a roof over their heads. Looking after others is in her blood.

And as you might expect from someone so selfless, she talked about soo many generous people in our local community who give back and the different things they do. She described how these people and organisations often work together to support people in need.

Frény has been running Sydney Food share for 7 years and is well known for her great work in the community focusing on Food Hampers, available for people immediately.  She calls her work an organisation, and as we talked over coffee, her phone pinged with messages- people offering supplies, organising meet ups and messages of gratitude.

Why Grass roots?

There are lots of generous kind individuals out there who spend their time and their own money providing for people in need, the homeless, families, individuals, refugees. Offering help with food and living supplies, cooked meals, sanitary products, baby wipes, nappies, formula, phones, clothes, warm bedding. Often these are not big organisations, probably most not registered as charities, but being small allows the help and all the money to go direct to the people who are most in need.

Sydney Food Share is known for food hampers in emergency situations.

It’s a small operation, Frény organises and stores all the food then responds to each person who reaches out, organising the supplies, where they need to go, sometimes using her own money and most often arranging to meet locally in person as she doesn't own a car. She encourages people to not rely on her hampers, so they can become self-sufficient and says that more than ever she is receiving requests from people who have never been in need before.

For more information on Sydney Food Share follow on Facebook to see the great work being done. You can message directly on Facebook to offer donations of food or money (for emergency hampers items when supplies run low) or if you are in need of an emergency food hamper.

Community Yoga

When I planned my Free Community Yoga Class, I decided I wanted to give people an opportunity to give back, but no obligation.

I chose Sydney Food Share because I knew that people in our local community were struggling. If you are in Sydney and would like to join my community yoga and see the list of 5 things you can donate check out my Yoga page. I will be dropping supplies once a fortnight, so welcome to bring donations direct to me at the yoga class.