Too often, we hear the complaints in life. Whether it’s the lines at the grocery store, the federal government, school, work, heck, people even complain about the umpires and referees at ballgames. I guess it’s human nature to be negative sometimes.
I began thinking about this during recent meetings – city, county and school boards. I thought about how often something negative comes from something that really should be a positive. Those positives include hearing things about schools’ parents of the year.
So often people complain about things in the schools, but these parents take the time to be involved and to make things better for not only their children, but all of those around them. One volunteer can make a difference.
Too often we’re in so much of a rush. The kids have to go to school, something needs done at home and there are a million things on our calendars. But think about the difference one volunteer makes. Volunteers help coach your children around the Dixie Youth ball fields. Volunteers make up your church choir or praise band; they help with those school parties and field days.
Too often we’re quick to criticize, but not quick to take action. Just a few minutes helping with any activity could make a difference and help your attitude. I’ve always enjoyed being involved in a variety of things, from helping with various Kiwanis Club activities to playing trumpet for local ceremonies or in the church orchestra. It’s rewarding.
That’s why when I heard recent calls for volunteers for things, I wanted to encourage folks to make a difference. It seems every meeting I’ve been in had had someone ask about volunteers. I heard great stories of volunteers helping with fundraisers at the schools. The other night, when Jennifer Baughman was named Parent of the Year for the Marion County School District, I heard how Baughman and the school’s team of dedicated volunteers helped provide students with dozens of needed computers at West Marion Primary School. Those donuts you bought, or the cookie dough or anything else you’ve purchased from kids have gone for things from computers to sports uniforms.
As I’ve been to several baseball and softball games recently, I’ve seen the volunteers who make the concession stands work. Volunteers announce the starting lineups; they often keep the scorebook. There are many people working to make the game, music event or school party more enjoyable.
There’s another place volunteers are desperately needed: the Columbia-Marion County Animal Shelter. Unfortunately, there’s not a huge budget for the shelter or any other activities in the city and county – ask Mayor Justin McKenzie, Police Chief Michael Kelly, the Board of Aldermen, the County Board of Supervisors and others.
In the case of the shelter, it often gained workers from an inmate program at the Marion-Walthall Correctional Facility. Leaders of the Mississippi Department of Corrections have chosen to pull the female prisoners that were part of the program from the regional facilities, meaning that those inmates are no longer available to help.
In the shelter’s case, it meant that several inmates who once helped clean cages and feed dogs were no longer available. It was as if the shelter went from four employees to one. A disheartening fact for former Shelter Director Amanda Bennett and Kelly, who has been police chief for about a month.
Some good volunteers are now helping, but more are always needed. You can contact the police department if you’re interested.
So here’s the deal, to quote Michael Jackson, “If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make a change.”
If we all work together we can make a difference and stem the negativity that sometimes persists in our community and our nation. After all, we only have one life; why not share it with others?
Mark Rogers is managing editor of The Columbian-Progress. Reach him at news@columbianprogress.com.
