Bridgeport Help Portrait 2010

Help Portrait is a global not for profit movement that provides free portrait photography to families and individuals in need. I and a few other Public Allies got to be a part of the movement this past Saturday in Bridgeport. It only took a few hours of our time in printing out pictures, taking on-scene photos, doing set-up and breakdown, and signing folks in.

The Bridgeport organizers of this totally awesome event gathered professional photographers, make-up artists, and more volunteers to help the day run smoothly - and so it did! We had approximately 250 families in a span of five hours. Individuals got a free 5 x 7 and families got an 8 x 10, as well as forwarded e-mails or burned CDs of their photos.

 

I got to walk around and spend time with some of the participants. I sat down and talked with one woman who lost her son the year before. She told me about how she still sees her son in her grandson's face and in his antics. Another woman brought in her three little girls - seven, four, and four months. We drew with crayons together. Help Portrait's slogan is "A picture is worth." The people coming in were thrilled to get their make up done and see professonal pictures of themselves and/or of their family. I saw a lot of moms bringing in their kids to pose, smiling as they fussed over their hair and clothes. There was a lot of laughter and good feeling in the atmosphere.

I can't wait for next year, when we can do it again! Whether you volunteer, or you are a recipient of volunteer services, there's more to it than the actual service supplied. In this case, the service supplied was a nice portrait. Beyond that, we (both volunteers and recipients) are building bridges and creating community. Community is what supports and strengthens us as social creatures. Anyone can volunteer, and anyone can share a smile, a story, or solace.

"A picture is worth."