A Scribe’ Musings: Part 2
The altruistic (unselfish or philanthropic) volunteer technically gives with no intention of gaining any return, but this, I think, is impossible. The giver contributes their energies for free but is repaid in many of the ways mentioned in the previous paragraph. We express gratitude for all that we have received by giving and sharing of our being. Giving selflessly engenders love, hope, peace, and joy, all the themes of the Christian season of Advent. Giving selflessly is what Jesus calls us to do, to love our fellow humans even more than we love ourselves. This is and must be the core belief of all people of faith, or more simply put, of all people!
We can volunteer individually, or through some existing organization that organizes volunteers and their efforts. We can help our neighbours by shovelling snow, raking, and bagging leaves, painting a fence, dropping off a meal or pie. When it is allowed and safe to do so, we can visit for a chat over coffee and treats. We can drive others to medical and other appointments, pick up groceries or prescriptions, sew masks or knit toques and mittens, or share news about the local community. The shutdowns have cut us off from so many things, one that is overlooked is the lack of sharing of local knowledge: in Rodney we have several new business owners, employees, and products. People may not know about these, or about the reconstruction of our main streets, or that several citizens have passed away, or are ill, or have moved to another location. The currency of life in a small or large town is local information, and recent experience tells me that people are indeed very hungry for such knowledge, not just as gossip, but as part of the fabric that connects us all and gives us a sense of true belonging – a feeling that has been annihilated by the pandemic. Knowing helps people to feel that they are a part of something larger. We can phone, we can text or email, we can stand on someone’s porch to check in on how they are doing and thereby brighten their day.
Volunteer for a service club: Kiwanis, Lions, Optimists, Knights of Columbus; the Caring Cupboard, Meals on Wheels, the foundation boards for many organizations vital to our community: Four Counties Hospital, the West Elgin Community Health Centre, seniors’ homes, the Daffodil Society, church organizations, when allowed again: reading buddies in elementary schools, seniors’ homes, hospitals and with isolated people who are elderly or who are isolated owing to physical limitations. There are so many, many possibilities! If you are curious and/or interested, make a few phone calls, contact a service club to see what their projects are or will be in the coming year. Enrich your community and in doing so, enrich yourself, by stepping outside of your own front door and stepping forward!!