Film Review: A PEBBLE IN THE POND

Working for a nonprofit is both gratifying and exhausting. Long hours, working harder than most 9-5s, small paychecks, and you’re at the mercy of volunteers to get a big project done. But, you’re doing this line of work because you want to help people and it’s one of the once-in-a-lifetime pleasures when you see an underserved human smile because some of their dreams have come true with your help. I know all of this because I worked for a nonprofit for almost two years.

It’s known in pop culture as The Butterfly Effect or a ripple in the water that could change the future for the worse, forever. Not in this charming movie. Narrated by Karis Campbell, A Pebble in a Pond follows host Ann Benson as she navigates through Operation School Bell, where underserved children and teenagers get brand-new clothes, shoes, backpacks, and cool perks. We learn police officers volunteer, as do grown-ups who were helped by OSB when they were young. Most of the population doesn’t understand how much it can mean to someone to be given a pair of pants, or a shirt.

It shows this nonprofit makes sure children who go to school scared because of tattered clothes and ripped-up shoes walk in with a fresh pair of kicks and brand-new clothes to go along with them.

Operation School Bell and many nonprofits around the globe help people have a better life because of how inspiring nonprofit advocate Anne Banning's life story is, which we learn about through incredible 2D animation.

Pebble in the Pond is a beautiful movie about selfless love. It makes you want to volunteer and help spread joy in the world. Pebble in the Pond is a triumph in showing the audience the successes of nonprofit hard work.