Would You Give $10 to a Stranger?

By Maria Bohan

Most people would not give $10 to a stranger.

Many people would say “Maybe…what if the person gets offended? What if they do something I don’t approve of with the money? What if I need the money later?”

Walking up to someone and asking them to take your money can certainly be awkward. Many of us are afraid to put ourselves out there with people we don’t know.

Reed Sandridge, on the other hand, endured the initial discomfort and gave $10 to a stranger every day for a year.

After losing his job, Reed decided to create Reed’s Year of Giving, documenting the journey on his blog, https://yearofgiving.org/. Some people ignored his offer; others politely declined the money. But many people accepted with a smile on their faces that hadn’t been there before.

June 15th is the Worldwide Day of Giving, a smaller version of Reed’s yearlong project. On this day, we’re encouraged to pay it forward in whatever way we can—by volunteering, giving $10 to a stranger, or donating to a charity.

Like Reed, for nearly 130 years, the Sisters and Associates of Saint Dominic of Blauvelt, New York have been giving their time and resources daily to those in need.

Inspired by Saint Dominic’s teaching, Sisters and Associates have engaged in various ministries and impacted thousands of lives for the better.

They have served in schools as teachers and leaders; they are on the boards of many charities; they provide health care services for the poor; they advocate for important social justice causes. The list goes on and on, and with each passing year, the Sisters and Associates do more for not only the Rockland County community but the world.  ​ On June 15th, please consider donating to the Sisters of Saint Dominic of Blauvelt, New York. Your generous gift will be doubly impactful because it will help further our mission and support our outreach to the poor and marginalized.

To donate or learn more about ways to give, visit: https://donorbox.org/worldwide-day-of-giving. 

Maria Bohan is a Volunteer for the Communications and Development Office at the Sisters of Saint Dominic of Blauvelt, New York. She is a student at Bryn Mawr College majoring in English and a graduate of Pearl River High School.