Mother-daughter contributions

Lauren Perillo (#11), Abby (#12) and Kendall Simpson (#1), and (not pictured) Caroline Perillo of Memorial High School organized a walk at the Houston Zoo. Also pictured are Memorial’s Navy Seal Team.

For as long as we can remember, our moms were volunteering. That’s how they met. That’s how we met. We were just 6, 5, 5 and 3 years old. Our houses looked like warehouses and mail houses, depending on what they were working on. We’re not sure if they were friends first or volunteered together first, but they’re all the faces we grew up with and have become like family. They always found a way to include us, whether we were helping prepare a meal, stuff an envelope or deliver something. Mostly it seemed fun to help people, but occasionally we got a glimpse into how important what we were doing was to others who are less fortunate.

Recently, our moms joined the National Charity League with us. It’s an all-volunteer organization that provides opportunities for mothers and daughters to volunteer together, and helps prepare the next generation of volunteers. In particular, Easter Seals made a big impact on all of us. Seeing first-hand the struggles people with disabilities and their families face is eye-opening. But then you see how charity work can make a difference, from basic needs to life skills to family resources, and you can’t help but want to be part of that.

When our moms were asked to co-chair Easter Seals Walk With Me, they suggested that we all do it together. It was overwhelming and exciting at the same time. The event’s success wasn’t just on our mothers this time, but also on us. We started meeting with Easter Seals staff, our moms and each other. They gave us a voice, and we were really part of something bigger than ourselves. We came up with a plan to raise money, recruit walkers and get our friends involved. We’ve raised nearly $200,000 to help people with disabilities and their families get the help they need. We are glad we found an organization that makes a difference in lots of lives, including ours.

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