Generosity is alive and well in Dane county

Last Friday evening my husband and I attended a Volunteer Appreciation Dinner at Glida's Club in Madison. I have been volunteering with Gilda's Club for over 2 years and I recruited my husband to sing for Glida's Glee Club. For those of you that don't know,Gilda's Club is a [place where anyone that is touched by cancer can go for social and emotional support. It is named after Gilda Radner who died from ovarian cancer. She wanted a place where people could go for laughter, tears, and hugs. It is free to the whole community and a beautiful place.

The dinner was wonderful and a great opportunity for networking. But the greatest part of Gilda's Club is that it was built entirely from donated dollars, time, and sweat equity. It is run the same way. In a time when the world feels negative, it is wonderful to go to something like Gilda's Club and observe those who give freely of themselves.

The other wonderful part of the evening was to hear the members talk about how Gilda's Club has made coping with their diagnosis easier. It gives them the support that they need and gives their family members the support that they need. The whole evening was touching.

It is nice to know that a smile, a touch, and a few volunteer hours can make such a difference in someone's life. It is again great to know that here in Dane County, so many people care about those that they do not even know!