Columns

Friday, December 12, 2003

when we volunteer, everybody wins!

“Everybody Wins!” That is the name of a terrific volunteer program that matches elementary school students and adults for one-on-one reading during the lunch hour. Many of my Senate staff members and I – in Des Moines and Washington – have been active in this program. And believe me, we get just as much out of these weekly reading sessions as do the kids. One staffer told me, “You know, Tom, that hour I spend reading with Yolanda is the best-spent hour of my entire week.”

The fact is, “Everybody Wins!” would be a good name for any one of thousands of volunteer programs all across Iowa. Because when we give our time to help others, everybody does win: the giver, the recipient, and our community.

The holiday season has a way of bringing out what Abe Lincoln called “the better angels of our nature.” We feel a special urge to make a difference in other people’s lives – perhaps by volunteering in a soup kitchen or making donations to our favorite charities. This is admirable. However, our time and energy are needed not just during the holiday season, but all year round.

And while volunteering in a soup kitchen is great, it is definitely not for everyone. The trick is to find an opportunity that matches your talents and temperament. The possibilities are endless: coaching a youth sports team, pitching in at your local public school, visiting shut-ins, serving as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for an abused or neglected child, volunteering at your local YMCA or YWCA, assisting in a 4-H club, getting involved in Big Brothers or Big Sisters, and on and on. There is something for everyone’s taste and talent.

America is a land of amazing abundance, but there are so many unmet needs in our midst. And this is especially true today. State and local government budgets are extremely tight, and many of our fellow Iowans have been hit hard by the recent economic downturn. Hunger and homelessness are very real problems.

You might consider giving your time and energy – or perhaps a financial gift – to your local food bank. Sister Sandra Rodemyer, who directs the Des Moines Area Religious Council’s Emergency Food Panty, says that 2003 has been a record-breaking year in terms of need. The Pantry is serving some 2,800 families a month, up from 2,200 families monthly in 2001. Almost all the families who receive food are working people who can’t make a living wage, or seniors on fixed incomes who just can’t make ends meet.

There is an old saying that “we make a living by what we make, but we make a life by what we give.” To explore opportunities to give in your community, contact the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service (1-800-308-5987 or www.volunteeriowa.org).

Have a safe and happy holiday season – and a generous new year!