Editorial: The art of volunteering and why we still need it today

It’s been a while since I wrote an editorial. Maybe I was too busy, or maybe I didn’t know what to say. But I have a few words that I want to get out that have been on my mind.

As time goes, there is the concept that generations and their priorities change. What doesn’t change is the ability for the older generations to support the younger ones to pave a path for them to be successful. The best way through that is through volunteering.

But now, volunteering has apparently become a taboo word in what we do. Unfortunately, there are people that just shiver of the thought of doing something without some sort of compensation. It’s ashamed that we have reached this point where it’s “I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine.”

I’ve been around volunteers essentially my whole life. From my father working at the fire department to my mother assisting with hospitality at the church to even myself giving back to the youth, volunteers are important and are essential to the growth of any community. It’s one of those things that our hearts have to outweigh our pockets. Is it tough? Yes, but I’m a firm believer that blessings will come through our selflessness.

I’m grateful for the people who have volunteered with track meets in Charles City over the past few weeks. The positive feedback that I’ve received from the volunteers share with me is that the experiences are not only fun, but they are bonding as well. People who haven’t seen each other in long periods of times who come together for good causes is the reason volunteering can be a backbone in teaching generations a new lesson.

Doing what’s best for a person’s family financially will always take precedence. That’s expected today. But I praise those volunteers who have turn away the dollar and sacrifice some free time to help others. From collecting trash along the road to donating blood to setting up tables to hand out free COVID-19 testing kits to handing out meals at pantries, these are just a few of the things that are done without asking. And trust me, people benefit from these services.

So today, I praise everybody who has volunteered to do something out of the goodness of their heart. It doesn’t matter how long or how much you contributed, but if you have done it, please continue to do it. If you haven’t done it or given as much as you’d like, it’s never too late. We all need a helping hand and the best way to do it is for us to do it together as one instead of opposing each other.