Click here to subscribe today or Login.
I realize this may be hard for some to believe, but, from time to time, my very patient wife can get upset with me.
I am one of those guys who has a death grip on the remote control when we are watching television, and I rarely watch commercials. I often flip between a show we might be watching together and another show or game I might also be interested in.
For some unexplainable reason, this can test her patience, and I am frequently told to hand over the remote or watch the TV in the basement.
Although I have an aversion to watching commercials, I recently saw one that I really appreciate. It was a commercial from State Farm Insurance that portrays an average guy concerned about the many needs he sees all around him. As the commercial ends, the narrator says “you can lift the weight of caring by doing,” and it encourages volunteerism. It is very well done, thought-provoking and inspiring.
As depicted in the commercial, the world we live in is not perfect, and there are all kinds of needs and hardships. The needs we see and those that cause us to be concerned are a call to action for every one of us. Issues and problems rarely go away on their own. Caring is only the first step. The only real way needs get addressed or things get better is by doing.
There are a lot of ways to take action. The United Way encourages community members to give, advocate and volunteer. Each of these makes a difference and enables us to move from caring to doing.
On May 25, the United Way of Wyoming Valley is offering a great way to put caring into action. We will be celebrating our 25th Annual Day of Caring. For 25 years, our Day of Caring has been supported by many local companies that encourage and enable their employees to participate in a day of service to benefit dozens of nonprofit organizations and community initiatives. Last year, more than 925 individuals participated. On this special anniversary year, we hope to engage 1,000 volunteers in 60 to 70 projects, creating an estimated value of more than $140,000 for the community.
All are invited to participate in the 25th Annual Day of Caring. To register, please visit our website or call our office. We will be happy to have you, and we will match up your interests with an appropriate project.
Beyond the Day of Caring, there is always lots to do throughout the year as the United Way and our many partners continue to address the issues of childhood poverty in the Wyoming Valley. As we work on strategies to raise graduation rates, improve grade level reading, support early childhood education, prevent child abuse and neglect, and address other related initiatives, your support, advocacy and volunteerism is needed and always appreciated.
I am really proud of the work we do at the United Way. Turning caring into doing is something we promote every single day. To change lives and make our communities better and stronger for all, we must take action. Individually, we can’t do everything, but every one of us could do something, and collectively, we can change our world.
Speaking of doing something, if I can get a volunteer to encourage my wonderful wife to tell me where she hid the remote, I would truly be a happy camper.