Catholic Volunteer Network - AmeriCorps
It is no
wonder why Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was such an inspiration for generations
of people in the United States and worldwide. His words reached many and
crossed barriers that commonly were not broken. I was happy to take part in
this National Holiday to learn from and serve the community that I live in.
Our day
began by joining a community engaged in celebrating Dr. King’s legacy over a
catered breakfast from Fay’s Homestyle
cooking. While there, we joined in soulful singing, thoughtful reflection
and prayer until Marian Wright Edelman, the founder and president of Children’s
Defense Fund, was broadcast to us for her Keynote address from the Minneapolis
Convention Center at the 23rd annual MLK Breakfast. Her address
focused on the importance of investing in our nation’s children by installing a foundation that will facilitate quality education, an
emphasis in art programs, safe neighborhoods, access to affordable health care,
and positive family structures. Without building these foundations and
investing in our children, we will fail to secure the United States’ future--leaving
Edelman to ask, “will the United States be a beacon or a blip in history?” The
morning breakfast was a seamless introduction to the following day of service
in honor of Dr. King and his legacy.
Our group of
thirteen went to Learning In Style, a
school for adult immigrants and refugees in the metro area focused on areas
such as English, Math, Computer, and citizenship. We split into several groups
to accomplish different tasks. Some sanitized every inch of the classroom and
daycare facility (meaning every LEGO piece) while others organized the “Free
Store,” which is where I worked for the day.
The free
store is, not surprisingly, a free store for anyone in the community to donate
to or receive goods from. The most common items were clothing, but shoes,
books, and kitchenware were among the other miscellaneous items available. My
group took direction from Sister Marie Herbert Seiter, a long-time volunteer
with the free store. She shared with us stories of common individuals that
utilize this resource. Some are experiencing homelessness, some are single
mothers, and some are simply in a pinch. Sister Marie Herbert was particularly moved by one
individual who was searching for appropriate shoes to wear to an interview the
following day. He found a perfect match and left the store beaming with more
confidence than ever before.
We concluded
our day together by engaging in song, prayer, and conversation about serving
others, experiencing poverty, and making lasting changes. Our day of
service did not require any heavy lifting, excruciating working conditions or
even direct contact with people. However, it meant wonders to an important non-profit
in our community. It can often be difficult to work tirelessly towards
something we may never directly see the effects of. But days of service like
this one beckon us to ponder one of Dr. King’s most powerful quotes, “Life’s most
persistent and urgent question is; what are you doing for others?”
No comments:
Post a Comment