Helping Others? Game ON!

We all say we want to live in a community where people care about their neighbors – not only when we’re in desperate need, but every day. Because the every day stuff is what makes up your life and mine, and that couple across the street. (What’s their name?)

There are countless ways to show we care and most of them are ridiculously simple. Like noticing that kid nervously waiting on the curb when you come to a stop. What does it take to make eye contact with him, smile, and let him know he can “Go ahead” and cross safely in front of your car? Not a whole lot. It also doesn’t take much to notice that those people seem to be looking for something on the ground. You could easily get up and ask if they’ve lost something and could they use another pair of eyes in their search. It takes a little time. A little effort. When people do stuff like that it says that ours is a caring community. When they don’t or we don’t, it says something else.

I’ve just started reading Peter Lovenheim’s In The Neighborhood: The Search for Community on an American Street, One Sleepover at a Time. I’m only on page 70, but I already recommend it, in case you want to check it out. You might also want to check out what’s going on in your community on Monday. No sleepovers are required, but stuff is happening, I guarantee it.

Monday, January 21st, is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and since 1994, when Congress had a great idea and actually acted on it, MLK Day has been a National Day of Service. So if you and your family have time off on Monday and you’re interested in moving beyond shaking your head to doing something to make your community a more caring place, go to MLK.gov and Find a Project.

I just did that by typing in my zip code. Within a 25 mile radius I found dozens of community volunteer opportunities for this Monday. A beach clean up project. A neighborhood park needing help with invasive plant removal.  This one, from the Human Rights Commission, caught my eye: We will need volunteers to assemble care bags for LGBT homeless youth. Helping kids? Yes! I can do that! Sign me up!

What can you do? Find out what’s needed and where. It’s all good. It all helps. Start here.

NOTE: In January, 2009, David and I were in DC for Obama’s Inauguration. That year, on MLK Day we helped out with an amazing book project to benefit DC public schools. So gratifying to be of service!