Martin Luther King Day - Call to Service
I'll be spending Martin Luther King Day in Washington, DC. That even sounds a little exciting to me -- and people who know me well know that I don't let myself get very excited.
But if I were staying here, normally I'd spend the long weekend knitting a sweater (it's a tradition with me). This year is different. Barak Obama has suggested that we all spend MLK day answering the call to service. I volunteer my time frequently, and if I were staying home, I'd answer this call at home.
I'm going to have this discussion with my husband -- who isn't an eager volunteer. We'll have to see what we can do to serve in Washington. There will be so many thousand of us all trying to find a way to serve, and it just may not work. My service may wait until I return to Ann Arbor.
But you have a chance to do a single day -- a few hours -- of great volunteer work here.
You can go to
www.usaservice.org
and type in your zip code (I just did this) and pick from quite a few choices. Many worthy causes are accepting contributed goods. From blankets to food, you can find something to give. If you have time and energy, you can help Food Gatherers, Safe House, the Family Learning Institure or other organizations. The Red Cross is looking for blood donors.
And then there's your favorite non-profit. Maybe you hesitated this year when the year-end appeals came out. Everyone had reason to be concerned about the way the economy has been going. But non-profit donations are down significantly this year -- and that means they won't be able to help the people who need our help now. When I say significantly, I mean 30% to 40% in some cases. Non-profits rely on direct contributions at year-end just as much as local businesses rely on Christmas sales. But those contributions are welcome ANYTIME. They keep the doors open and the services available.
So MLK day is a good time to think about whether you really can afford to give a little (more) back to our community. I know my contributions have increased significantly in the last year since I joined Council. I give more back, because I've been given so much.
Except time. I'm out of that right now. And I'm not packed.
Good night!
But if I were staying here, normally I'd spend the long weekend knitting a sweater (it's a tradition with me). This year is different. Barak Obama has suggested that we all spend MLK day answering the call to service. I volunteer my time frequently, and if I were staying home, I'd answer this call at home.
I'm going to have this discussion with my husband -- who isn't an eager volunteer. We'll have to see what we can do to serve in Washington. There will be so many thousand of us all trying to find a way to serve, and it just may not work. My service may wait until I return to Ann Arbor.
But you have a chance to do a single day -- a few hours -- of great volunteer work here.
You can go to
www.usaservice.org
and type in your zip code (I just did this) and pick from quite a few choices. Many worthy causes are accepting contributed goods. From blankets to food, you can find something to give. If you have time and energy, you can help Food Gatherers, Safe House, the Family Learning Institure or other organizations. The Red Cross is looking for blood donors.
And then there's your favorite non-profit. Maybe you hesitated this year when the year-end appeals came out. Everyone had reason to be concerned about the way the economy has been going. But non-profit donations are down significantly this year -- and that means they won't be able to help the people who need our help now. When I say significantly, I mean 30% to 40% in some cases. Non-profits rely on direct contributions at year-end just as much as local businesses rely on Christmas sales. But those contributions are welcome ANYTIME. They keep the doors open and the services available.
So MLK day is a good time to think about whether you really can afford to give a little (more) back to our community. I know my contributions have increased significantly in the last year since I joined Council. I give more back, because I've been given so much.
Except time. I'm out of that right now. And I'm not packed.
Good night!
posted by Sabra Briere | 8:58 PM
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