Gratitude Week in Miami

I spent a few days in Miami with Monat Gratitude documenting Gratitude Week with the team of Gratitude Ambassadors and Team Captains. This group came together from all over the US to volunteer and support the work of many amazing organizations in Miami.

Monat Gratitude embraces “Gratitude is more than what we do it is who we are” and it is a movement desiring to encourage of “group of global changemakers who strive to make a positive impact for the greater good.” They share, “whether through donating, volunteering, or simply showing love and offering support to those in need, no contribution is ever too small and no gesture too large.” This week in Miami they spent time partnering with non for profits and organizations making a huge impact in the Miami area. See more of the organizations below and support the great ongoing work they are doing in their community. Loved hanging with this crew and documenting their efforts while honoring the organizations and keeping informed consent and safety central in the storytelling. Here are some highlights from the week:

The corporate staff collected toys for a holiday toy drive to benefit the Salvation Army.

The ambassadors headed out with blankets and personal hygiene kits for the underhoused community in Miami and then ended the morning with acts of kindness by passing out flowers and candy bars with hand written encouraging messages to folks in the Wynwood area of Miami.

Any remaining blankets and hygiene kits were donated to The Miami Rescue Mission.

Seeing the ambassadors brings smiles to stranger’s faces on the street was special! A kind word and act matters.

The team also headed to The Lotus House in Miami to serve a meal, lead an empowerment workshop and gift products to the residents. Two professional hairstylist on the team also helped the stylist onsite offer services to clients. The Lotus House “shelters 1,550+ women, youth and children annually, and is the largest women’s homeless shelter in the country. They provide shelter, resources, and multi-faceted, comprehensive supportive services to help their guests successfully exit the shelter system and lead lives of greater opportunity.”

A group gift for the amazing Gratitude leader Mary over lunch before heading to an after after school program they also served last year.

The Home Team serves youth and families in Miami and their “mission is to measurably improve the lives of Miami-Dade public school students through  engagement with academic, sports and business leaders.”

The ambassadors were able to join the staff and volunteers to help with the after school programs and end the night with a pizza party and allowing the young people to select products for gifts for their families and themselves. Connecting with the staff that some of the team had met last year was so much fun and t is so clear the staff and founder (who grew u in this neighborhood and wanted to make an impact) deeply care for the students.

The week ended with young women and their caregivers from His House coming to the corporate office and salon for a self care seminar and the ability to shop and take home lots of haircare and makeup products. His House is a “faith based organizations that desires to create a safe home for youth in foster care. They His House Children’s Home is a private non-profit, faith-based organization dedicated to bringing healing and hope to the lives of children from newborn to 18 years of age.” They desire to establish “a place to call home” for the young women that live in the home. Spending time with the house moms was a gift- they are amazing women! The crew sent the young women off after a pizza dinner and shopping experience with many new products- many expressed their thankfulness for the experience.

It was a bonding and emotional week spent offering time and resources to serve the organizations doing the real work in Miami to serve. I am grateful to be invited to document the special week of service.