Today is April 3, and I'm looking forward to tomorrow. April 4th is the Rutgers University Dance Marathon, which raises money for kids with cancer and blood disorders--a great cause! Our son is head of security this year, and he's been active in the dance marathon since he started at Rutgers. Our daughter got her master's degree there and was involved in the DM also, and as an undergrad at Penn State, active in their dance marathon too. As we do every year, my husband and I will visit just to support our child in this wonderful fundraising event. We get to see the families who benefit from this fundraiser, too.
I've always believed that one of our purposes in life should be to help others. My husband and I volunteered as band parents, in PTA, etc.
I've found that most writers are also very giving of themselves and spend time volunteering in their communities. And our writing is another way of helping others.
As writers, we can help other people in important ways--especially with the fiction that Avalon publishes. Our romances show people that there is love in life--and happy endings. Our mysteries show that the villain will be caught and justice will prevail. Our westerns show that good will triumph over evil. Fiction really has the power to give people not only hours of enjoyment, but hope as well. When I hold one of my books in my hands, I hope that it will touch someone's life, make them feel better, and perhaps make their world a brighter place.
My kids are older now so I don't do the school volunteering I used to. I'm now involved in my local animal shelter. I know many of you are volunteering to make your communities a better place. Tell us what you are doing!
16 comments:
A Dance Marathon sounds fun! And what a great cause. I'm in the middle of getting our church summer camps organized - we'll have campers from first grade all the way to high school graduates come for a week. A chance to slow down and think about who they are and who they can become.
Oh, and I'm also working on another book that will have love and happy endings :)
www.tessamcdermid.com
Since my back condition limits me somewhat physically (and ended my teaching career*sigh*) I now feel the Lord uses me to provide little "day brighteners" for people (at least I hope it brightens their days,LOL). I take small gifts (candy,fruit,etc.) to the crossing guard at my son's high school, surprise my church staff with biscuits, etc. - all little things, but hopefully adding a little cheer. ~ Blessings, Patti Jo :) P.S. Am enjoying your new blog, Ladies!!
Roni, your post brings back many pleasant memories when I was a Girl Scout leader, a volunteer life guard for Scout camp, a classroom mother, and a literacy tutor. I'm a sucker for happy endings and always have the good guys win.
www.lorettacrogersbooks.com
Roni, your comments are so true and a much-needed reminder how our own lives are enriched by doing things for others. In fiction, as in life, those happy endings are usually the result of getting past the easy answer and making an extra effort.
There are so many ways to make the world a brighter place, and happy ending stories are sure one of them for me! This post has me thinking about my path of volunteering, and how our "missions" change over the years with the stages of women's lives. I remember the full nest stuff, the scouts, school committees, etc. Now there's a lot that has to do with writing. Helping new writers succeed is important to me. That goes for adult workshops and teaching kids as well. I love to do volunteer programs in schools to encourage kids to write. Right now I'm also a volunteer fascilitator in a support group for grieving children. Probably this is one of the most challenging things I've ever done, and also one of the most worthwhile. I loved to read your post, Roni, and all of the other great comments also. Thanks!
I love your post, Roni!
Another great volunteer opportunity is literacy--perfect for writers who want to help others share their passion.
Wow, people are doing so many diverse kinds of volunteering! It's great reading everyone's posts!
And Christine, helping children through the grieving process must be SO difficult. It's hard enough for an adult to lose a loved one; even more hard for children.
Roni--I really appreciate what you do in volunteering and sharing that on your post. I see so many needs, it's often hard to decide, but very often I worked with people who don't speak English. I've taught ESL, translated, and helped with job training. Everything I've done has taught me so much and meant so much.
Volunteers are so valuable in our society and for the most part their efforts go unrecognised by the wider community. Just imagine what would happen if all the volunteers were actually paid for their time! Volunteers hold society together.
I've done years of school tuckshop duty, primary school reading assistance, served on preschool committees, provided transport for the elderly to doctors etc, done one on one adult literacy lessons, once judged races for wheelchair games (and got a stiff neck from sitting all day in a cold wind LOL). Now I'm on the RWAust committee and have also managed one of the RWAust contests for a few years.
I think I'm a chronic volunteer LOL.
Chronic volunteer....Beautiful! I like that!!
I remember when my kids were young and we would eat turkey sandwiches in the car on the way to some school or sports event. They were hectic but now I realize how much fun they were sharing the experiences with my children. My husband and I were always the parents in the booth selling snacks or coaching.
I feel that volunteering is in my blood. Growing up, my mom dragged me to help at spaghetti suppers and rummage sales, filled our house with bread wrappers for a Girl Scout fundraiser and made little stuffed "pinkie dolls" (a cute plastic doll face sewn to a pudgy pink cotton body) for children in the hospital. I learned by example, the best way to teach our children.
Now I crochet blankets for preemie infants, caps for homeless men, and block afghans for women getting their first home. I bake cookies for a monthly dinner at the local homeless shelter. I also serve as webmaster for my homeowners association.
But, Roni, thanks so much for reminding us that fiction writers also serve by providing entertainment, enjoyment, cleansing tears and joyful smiles to readers who need a break from the work-a-day world. That's the writer's calling.
What a lot of good ideas - some I can see incorporating into my life and others into a story or two. One reason I like writing the happy endings is because of the letters I've received that tell how my story helped the reader through a tough time. I know I've used books that way, too.
I have to ask, Elisabeth Rose, what is 'tuckshop duty'?
Tuckshop duty/canteen duty is helping out in the school canteen making the lunch order sandwiches etc and serving on the counter at recess and lunch. Almost did my brain in doing the mental arithmetic on "can I please have a meat pie plus a packet of crisps plus an iceblock, No make that two sausage rolls and popcorn and a Mars Bar." And then they give me a $10 note while my head is reeling and trying to figure it out, with a "don't you know anything" look on the teenage face. LOL
Hi, Roni. You know me, I can't say no to voulunteering. Besides chapter, I'm involved with my church. When the children were younger, it was boy scouts, baseball, football, PTO, etc. etc. I believe like you-want you send out into the world comes. ((HUGS)) di
Roni, you raised some excellent points. Volunteering is good for the soul. The more we give, the more we get. It does everyone good to do something because he/she wants to...not for money. Thanks for the good thoughts!
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