Many of us have so many Blessings to be thankful for. Let’s not forget those families in our own community struggling everyday just to get by. Let’s face it, there is a time in everyone’s life when we need kindness and a helping hand.
Here in the U.S., National Volunteer Week, established in 1974, is an opportunity to shine a light and celebrate the impact of volunteer service across our country. According to the Corporation for National Community Service, 25.3 percent of Americans volunteer, which is 62.8 million volunteers. They average 32.1 volunteer hours per person, per year, which comes to 7.9 billion hours of service.
Volunteering is not political. It is however, loving and compassionate. It comes from within our core values in many forms and is a proactive force to transform the world. It is a legacy of who we are and can be passed forward to the next generation. Growing up I was a beneficiary of such kindheartedness and I’m proud to say my daughters Micaela and Kelsey have volunteered at the Seattle Ronald McDonald House and the Georgetown Food bank. And I know someday they will pass down that same giving spirit to their own children.
Please look around your neighborhood and consider participating in local organizations that extend help to those less fortunate. Be a part of something bigger than yourself. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if everybody did that?