Today, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday is observed by our country. In Verona, the schools are closed. Instead of a do nothing day, why not mark the occasion with an act of service?
Verona has always been a community of giving. Currently the First Presbyterian Church is participating in a sock drive for the homeless. How easy would it be today to simply run out a purchase a pair (or two) of socks and drop it inside the church’s bin tomorrow? The Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit hosts a food pantry. How simple would it be to purchase an extra bottle of shampoo or a can of peas and put it in the bin? (It’s outside the church! You can do it ANY time!) Either (or both) of these don’t take a great deal time or money. They can easily be a family activity. Yet, they can make a deep impact on the life of someone you don’t know.
How easy was it for me? Well, last year I took $20 and my son to the grocery store. e tried together to stretch that money and buy the most that we could on things that someone might really need. Food pantries aren’t just about canned goods; which is why we focused on soap, shampoo, laundry detergent. We paid, drove by Holy Spirit, left our items and were done in under 30 minutes.
Maybe we’ll do that again. Or maybe we’ll see how many socks were can purchase and put them in the bin at First Presbyterian. Maybe we’ll do both. It will be quality family time, but also will not be so long that my son (or any child) will complain about it.
However, not everyone gets this day off. You can still do a simple act of service…reach out and make a phone call to someone who might need it. That friend that you’ve been meaning to call. The relative that someone (maybe you) should really check in on. It doesn’t have to be a long call. (But if it became something greater how wonderful would that be?) Give the gift of 5 minutes of your time and let someone know that you care. That they matter. We all matter and we ALL to know that/hear it from someone else. Take a few minutes. Encourage family members to do the same.
Service can be simple. Out of simple acts, can come great things. Let’s be a great community today…and tomorrow…and the day after that…
Honor the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. and our wonderful community with an act of service and kindness today. Or any day.
Beth Shorten is a life-long resident of Verona. For more than five years, she has been chronicling life here on her personal site, Bfth’s Boring Blog.
