We've all heard the phrase "Charity begins at home." This statement is very true in my case, not because we needed help but rather because we were taught from an early age to provide help whenever possible. In our current economy there are many people who are struggling, not only in our community but around the world and beyond. I was fortunate to grow up in a family with two loving parents who shared the importance of core beliefs and values. Cynthia Street, the street I grew up on, was a comfortable, middle-class neighborhood that served as my first perspective on American life. Through my experiences in my neighborhood and also my interaction with my church family at Central Christian Church in Newark, I have learned the importance of outreach work. My parents, my sister Julie and brothers Bruce, Mike and Jeff, taught me that it was better to give than to receive. At the young age of five, however; that concept was a little difficult to understand. I remember one summer watching my mother load some of our toys, games, and clothes into the back seat of our station wagon. We were told that the items would be donated to our church yard sale and the money from this sale would be given to the local food pantry. When I was five years old, I felt like my mother was stealing from us and I wondered who I could report this crime to so she would stop. I thought to myself, if this was my toy, he wouldn't have the right to take it away from me even if I didn't use it for months. Much to my dismay, this became an annual tradition in our family. It wasn't until I got much older that I could appreciate the significance of this act and how not everyone in America was as blessed as my family. As a young adult, I became aware of other c... paper ......and from the Angel Tree through the Salvation Army and provide Christmas to a child in need. He'd say, "I can't think of one thing I really need." We all agreed and enjoyed the experience and satisfaction of making sure a child wasn't forgotten at Christmas. Charity may begin at home, but it certainly doesn't have to end there. I am proud to hear on the news how the United States is helping with relief efforts in Haiti after the recent earthquake. Because of the values ​​that have been instilled in me, I plan to make a financial contribution to these efforts and hope that others will follow suit. I am comforted to know that there are people not only in my community but around the world who are willing to lend a hand of support to friends, family, and people they will likely never meet. I am proud to be an American, a nation of givers.