It’s much easier to identify problems than to be part of the solution – get involved!
I am fortunate to sit on a few nonprofit boards focused on community issues. It is a privilege to be asked to serve and strive to make a positive difference. What you quickly notice when you interact in these circles is that you tend to see the same people. I have a theory that less than 5% of the residents do most of the volunteer work in any given community. Sadly, the rest of us are spectators and sometimes even critics of their hard (and often thankless) work.
Every one of us has a strength or talent we can share. While fundraising is often necessary, volunteering is just as important. Time is a precious resource that we all share equally. Just because you may not be able to make a big donation, it doesn’t mean your efforts aren’t needed or appreciated. It never ceases to amaze me how much can be accomplished by the energy and efforts of a small, dedicated group of people. Often, they achieve these results on a tight budget.
As I age, my tolerance for people who complain about the status quo without taking action to change it is decreasing. It’s like the sports fan who thinks they know more than the coach or players on the field, but doesn’t have to play the game at this level (and never has). It’s easy to criticize the efforts of others when you don’t have the stress of competing and performing yourself. Things always look different from the armchair than from the playing field. For any support system to work, caring people need to get involved.
If you’re unhappy with your community, I encourage you to take action instead of just talking about it. If you have a particular cause that you care deeply about, investigate how to advance it and join the work of other like-minded individuals. You may even be able to make it a career – check out www.idealist.org. Run for political office and affect change through policy or legislation. Our country was founded by a small group of already busy people who dedicated their time, talents, and often their own resources to the proposition that the world can change for the better.
Get involved! We need you!
Related articles
- Benefits of Being A Volunteer (bhls.wordpress.com)
- Volunteering: How Helping Others Helps You (bigfuture.collegeboard.org)
- Following Your Passion While Helping Others (activismmyway.com)