Every day, thousands of trucks roll out from UPS facilities across the country carrying packages to homes and businesses. For one driver, however, some of those boxes carry something far more significant than ordinary deliveries—they carry hope.
For the past three years, King Gregory has been delivering hundreds of Care Packages for Phil’s Friends out of Crown Point, IN. The artwork was what caught King’s eye first. “It was really cool,” he said, even though “I had no clue what it was at the time.”
He soon learned, though, when he asked about the volunteers gathered around long tables at the Crown Point Hope Center. “When they told me what they were working on, I was blown away. I was really humbled to see the good they were doing. It’s also really inspiring? They have some great artists working on them.”
The artwork, in fact, is the first thing recipients notice, signaling that something special awaits them inside.
“When you see a package from Phil’s Friends, you know it’s special,” King said. “The art that’s on the boxes gives it away immediately. When I see that, I give the delivery the reverence it deserves.”
He adds, “I really feel a sense of duty when delivering a Care Package. You have to empathize when you see what people struggle with, and you take that perspective with you throughout the day and the route and the community you serve. Phil’s Friends brings hope to those who need it most.”
King has even requested a Care Package for his wife’s best friend, who had cancer. “I had the honor of delivering that care package in person as well.”
King’s wife got involved too once she learned about Phils’ Friends from her husband. Now she makes blankets for them, as well as scent-bonding hearts for babies in NICUs at local hospitals.
King says he is “proud of the small role I play. Everyone wants to feel valued for what they do, and I get that feeling of satisfaction when I am involved in the process. Being a service provider for Phil’s Friends has been a real privilege. Hopefully I have the opportunity to help their philanthropic efforts even more in the future.”
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