by Fred Hilsenrath
We had the pleasure of listening to Willa Wells on volunteering. Here are the impassioned points she made and examples Willa cited to us. “Volunteer – It’s the right thing to do.”
From the first volunteer fire department, founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1736, through the establishment of the American Red Cross in the 1880’s, to the development of Vista and the Peace Corps in the 1960’s, to 2009 when national service legislation was signed by President Obama, Americans have long demonstrated a willingness to volunteer. Volunteers have an enormous impact on the health and well-being of communities worldwide. Think of all the ways that volunteers make a difference in day-to-day life.
Volunteers deliver critical services, to list a few: They serve as volunteer fire fighters, like our own Fairfield Bay Fire Department & EMS.
They deliver meals to homebound seniors – like our own Fairfield Bay Senior Center. Volunteers in schools tutor, teach, mentor, coach and support young people with homework and sports programs. Volunteers educate the public on health and safety, like the Rotary program to eradicate polio. Doctors and nurses donate time and medical knowledge to free clinics, like our local health fairs. Volunteers of all ages respond after a natural disaster (tornado).
Volunteers lead tours at museums – like our own Log Cabin and Cave. Volunteers are the “movers and shakers” who provide the beautiful art exhibits at the Conference Center and several other public places. In our community, the Kirk Men are making positive changes in people’s lives.
The John 3:16 group of men are building houses and helping improve the community.
Conclusion:
What would we do without volunteers? Imagine if one day all VOLUNTEERS SIMPLY DIDN’T SHOW UP.
What would our cites, parks, schools, places of worship and libraries look like? What basic needs would go unmet? What opportunities to grow, learn, and thrive as a society would be lost? Volunteering usually doesn’t require a huge time commitment, but it does give us an opportunity to make a real difference and mostly, it just feels good….quite simply it’s just the “right thing to do.”
Volunteering indeed is a fine way to help and to get jobs done that may otherwise remain neglected.
Willa and I mused as to what our economy would look like if we did all jobs as volunteers. (Get rid of money. No Taxes, no waiting for raises, no worries about expected profits and no more money greed). All we need is skills, education, raw materials and the good will and energy to work.
Whatever we need we simply get, no need to pay and no more debts.
Dream on Willa and Fred. Questions? Call Willa Wells 501.238.0431