Forgive me today for standing on my little wooden soapbox. I need to preach to myself, you see. I am a volunteer for several organizations and sometimes I grinch and gripe. Oh yes, I do. But, then, I realize that I am important; that each of us is important if we are to get anything done since we cannot do it alone. So shape up, Annie!
Volunteers are the backbone of this country. So many of the organizations that help us all in the time of need are functioning because of volunteers. Let’s think of a few. In Larned, if your house is on fire, volunteers are the ones who will put it out. If you need blood, that blood comes from volunteers who have given it freely.
The Santa Fe Trail Center, the Humane Society, Meals on Wheels, the Picture lady program in the schools to teach art appreciation, the hospital auxiliaries who lovingly raise money and give of their free time to provide special needs to the medical system, Pilot International, church groups, the Food Pantry, youth ministries, thrift shops, after-school dads coaching sports teams, are only a tip of the iceberg.
To pay all of these helpers and workers would never be possible. What we see in our communities can be multiplied 3,000,000 times at least, across the country.
What would our society be without volunteers, and the wealth of help and encouragement that they give freely? Companies run their businesses, and the daily work of just surviving goes on. But, the flavor, the spices, the sweetness comes from the organizations and efforts of volunteers.
Several ladies from the Pawnee Valley Hospital (University of Kansas Health System, Pawnee Valley Campus) recently attended an HAK (Hospital Auxiliaries of Kansas) state convention and met with many others from their local auxiliaries who give their time freely.
Do you remember Susan Peters? Her “Susan’s Kids” was selected for special recognition at this convention. She spoke about how her organization began. She was a news anchor from 1995-2016, and during that time she established a non-profit called “Susan’s Kids”, the purpose being find “Forever Homes” for kids with no family or home. It’s worth noting that Susan supports child advocacy through the Kansas Service Children’s League, She is involved with the Alzheimers Association of Wichita, March of Dimes, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and more.
She leaves me behind in the dust, that’s for sure!
Here’s a compelling story. Julie Dombo, a retired 2nd grade teacher, related her experience after suffering multiple gunshot wounds to her body as she entered a store unknowingly during a robbery in 2104. She is now a quadruple amputee of both lower arms and lower legs. F.E.A.R. for Julie meant “Forget Everything and Run” or “Face Everything and Rise”. She chose to face everything and rise. The Biometric Prosthetics she needed to function were not covered by her insurance. She now works with legislatures in support of a bill for “Insurance Fairness for Amputees” which would cost $1.44 per year per insured to cover the biometric prosthetics that cost approximately $250,000 each or $500,000 for a pair. But, guess what? Due to the generosity and most likely volunteers contributed, she was provided with the needed prosthetics.
And now, she is volunteering as well with her efforts to change the insurance provision for amputees. She’s not sitting there pining away and feeling sorry for herself. Nope. She is Facing Everything and Rising.
2020 President Peggy Ogle has chosen “Volunteers Make A Difference” and her logo shows people holding hands and working together to get it done.
So, there. I am done. Volunteers...and you are many, pat yourselves on your back. Here. I will! Pat, pat, pat. Now roll up our sleeves and get back in the trenches. It’s worth it.
Judi Tabler lives in Pawnee County and is a guest columnist for the Great Bend Tribune. She can be reached at juditabler@gmail.com or juditabler@awomansview.
