Funny, I am writing this in West Virginia. A story of New Jersey as told from a car rocketing through West Virginia, toward Harper’s Ferry. We have departed the norm. Till this point, the landscape was familiar. We have passed through cities and towns that, though not the same, provided some semblance of similarity. Not anymore. We have officially seen our first wide open spaces. As we crossed the border at sunset, the sky exploded into a pallet of pink, mauve, marigold, and purple, with touches of grey blue from the clouds. No buildings obstructed the horizon. Tim commented that he is glad we get to drive into the sunset every evening – it signifies the closing of one day and the possibility of the next.
Not only has this trip been an exercise in volunteering and travel, but an exploration of generosity. Not intentional, of course, but a very common theme all the same. From Jess and her husband, Mike, who didn’t know us from Moses, but still offered us a place to stay and a delicious breakfast while in RI, to Alexis in NY who had to take us in because that’s what old friends do for each other. We had a lovely dinner with a very cool family in Delaware, but when we walked out to the car to collect our clothes and toiletries, Tim whispered conspiratorially, “How do we know them exactly?” Oh, Jeez. Really, Tim? Really? “Well, I found them on Craigslist,” I responded. “Seriously?” Tim questioned, staring at me quizzically, reevaluating his estimation of my crazy factor. “No! They are your mom’s friend’s niece and her family.” I wanted to add a snotty “Duh!” but didn’t. I should have just maintained we didn’t know them. He probably would have continued to believe me.
Other people’s hospitality has been our enabler. Not only with regards to people welcoming us into their homes, but people welcoming us into their organizations. Many of the organizations we have visited or will visit are the brain child of someone who is still deeply involved with the day to day operations, and have been available to guide us through our service experience.
One of my favorite aspects of our trip has been hearing the creation story of each organization – the genesis. The idea or experience that planted the seed and helped to foster the development of the organization. I just find it phenomenally interesting to hear about the “tipping point”. What causes a person to establish a nonprofit? It isn’t about fortune, or fame. In my opinion, it is creativity, a knack for problem solving, and a genuine love for the cause. In the case of Chris, whom we stayed with in Baltimore, she saw the beauty in an unused school auditorium, combine it with a need for an arts program, and created a youth-driven performing arts and mentoring program, using the arts as a hook to keep youth engaged in their education and their lives (Unchained Talent). In the case the case of Your Resource in Trenton, NJ, executive director and founder Geri LaPlaca coupled years of experience in the physical therapy business with years of observations to benefit both people and the environment.
Geri, while giving us a tour of the facility, spoke passionately about the service Your ReSource provides. When she was a physical therapist, she helped to rehabilitate people, worked with them until they no longer needed their wheelchair, walker, or cane. But as those same wheelchairs, walkers, and canes made their way to the sidewalks on a subsequent trash day, no longer useful to the owner, Geri couldn’t help but think that their had to be a better way.
Light bulb suspended above head clicks on - there had to be other people who could use this equipment.
The present health system very difficult to navigate, too complicated and the waiting periods are too long. Millions of people are without health insurance while others cannot afford the co-pays or out of pocket expense. Many go without needed equipment while others are throwing it away.
At times, the organization receives donations that cannot be refurbished. Instead of chucking the items, volunteers break down that equipment, stripping and recycling the various parts.
Tim and I attacked walkers with wrenches, screwdrivers and rubber mallets, taking out any pent up aggression or hyperactivity we have stored up on the screws, bolts, and metal joints. We separated metal from aluminum, stripped the plastic and rubber detailing, and collected re-useable components.
In the afternoon, Tim took a drive through Trenton with a NJ Red Sox fan (yeah, surprised him too) to deliver a refurbished medical bed to an elderly priest. The neighborhood was rough. The other volunteer told Tim they were lucky they could deliver the bed in the afternoon. The cold keeps the riff raff away. Otherwise, the delivery would have had to reschedule the delivery to the following morning to avoid a certain element that crops up on the streets. The bed, transported in four pieces, was assembled, the bells and whistles checked, and the keys handed over to the new owner.
While Tim was out, gallivanting around town, I tallied up the volunteer hours from the last year. The 25 to 30 volunteers at Your ReSource completed around 2500 hours, comprised of pick ups, deliveries, cleaning, refurbishing, recycling, web maintenance, equipment cataloging, and database development, not to mention time at events and fundraisers.
Volunteering in itself is moving, awesomely inspiring at times. When coupled with an interaction with the founder(s), you begin to see how your work contributes to the end goal. The people who start these organizations take a sentiment, a thought, and turn it into a direction. Coupled with immense drive, these ideas begin to weaken the strong grip of inequity and fill the voids left by imbalance. And, through volunteerism, you can be a part of that.
Your ReSource
8 Industry Court
Ewing, NJ
(609) 530-1513
No comments:
Post a Comment