Every year, Father’s Day is an amazing opportunity for children to acknowledge and appreciate their fathers and father figures, who play an important role in their lives, be it emotionally, mentally or even financially. It is a day where children get to give back to the men that spent so much from themselves raising them.
Unfortunately, life sometimes gets in the way, and not everyone is able to give back in the manner they would want to. With the increasingly challenging financial situation in Lebanon, this becomes a reality most families have to face. It becomes our duty, and not just a pleasure, to make a small contribution to families in need, and put a smile on the faces of fathers and their children, on that special day.
On a sunny Saturday, the 19th of June, the volunteers of the Youth of the Order of Malta visited multiple vulnerable families, and offered them special homemade cakes celebrating the dads. It was a very special thing to see faces lighting up, with the fathers feeling valued for all their hard work and children happy to finally be able to celebrate, just like any other family.
One of the most special things about this activity is that each cake was personally made by a volunteer with the name of the each father written on it. As opposed to having store bought and only carrying the monetary value, these cakes also carried a lot of love that was poured into their making. And that is much more valuable than any amount of money you can spend.
Giving back to the community is more than just the material things you can offer. Time and effort are what is most valuable, and I am grateful I had the opportunity to do so.
Marita Yaghi, Lebanese volunteer
