Friendship is a beautiful note
You know how they say you are who your friends are? Well, I sure hope that’s true because my inspiring friends also embody doing small things with great love.
You may remember Sherry from a volunteer opportunity earlier this year which involved decorating book covers for the Heart’s Delight event. She’s not only the kind of fabulous friend who volunteers with you, but she’s just a rock star kind of gal all around.
Why is that? Well, she totally made my day. I got home to a package on my doorstep full of CDs she wanted to donate to Wounded Warriors at Walter Reed Army Medical Center (she works in the music biz). Random, but not really…
Coincidentally, Sherry was at the same Counting Crows / Augustana concert that my guy and I escorted a group of our nation’s heroes and their guests to last week through the USO. Of course she offered to help us escort, but we had a small group so we had that covered. However, she still hung out for a bit and met several of the guys and had a great time with us.
Then today, unbeknownst to me, this package showed up chalked full of CDs for those guests.
This is such a small gesture, but it’s going to be music to our Wounded Warriors’ ears. I can’t wait to share it with them on her behalf.
Thanks again Sherry!
Time for trying new volunteer opportunities
I’ve been a bit selfish lately with my volunteer time – spending most of it supporting the troops. My boyfriend and I escorted Wounded Warriors last week on two separate occasions. First, we took them to see the Legg Mason Tennis Classic Aug. 7th and then to see the Counting Crows show Aug. 9th. Both events were awesome and the Wounded Warriors as well as their guests had a great time.
While all time volunteering is important (especially for a cause I’m passionate about), I also want to spread the wealth a little. So here are two upcoming volunteer opportunities in the DC area I’m checking out in an effort to expand my volunteer experiences:
Timeslips: This opportunity is a creative storytelling method that helps people with dementia reaffirm their humanity and better connect with others.
Choices: Here I will get to work with youth to help them manage their money and teaching them about financial responsibility. Through Choices, an interactive game, youth choose a career, make money and go through all the real life responsibilities they’ll soon need to know and set them up for success.
Both of these opportunities are exciting and I can’t wait to get involved.
A couple that volunteers together…
Seventeen months ago I received a comment on this very blog that ultimately would change my life. At the time it seemed innocent enough someone wanted to share that he was impressed with my community involvement. After all, I started this blog to share my experiences in hopes of inspiring my friends to get involved too. The fact that others beyond them find it inspirational is icing on the cake.
Anyway, as commenting is intended to do, that remark sparked a conversation we maintained until finally one day we had the pleasure of meeting at an event hosted by yours truly. I was still unaware at the time of how important he was going to be to me.
You see, as someone committed to a life a volunteerism, I knew that any man I fell in love with would have to be understanding of that commitment considering I spend as many hours each month as possible giving back to the community. Although I didn’t doubt finding someone who supported my passion, I never expected to find someone who matched it.
But I did.
As it turns out, that one comment from one inspired reader ended up being the small thing with great love I feel I’ve received in return for a life of volunteering. Of course, I’ve never expected anything in return for what I do, but if there’s any truth to fate or paying it forward, this has to be it.
Volunteering has enriched my life in more ways than even I imagined. It has brought me an immeasurable amount of joy. And now I can say it has also brought me love.
As rewarding as I already feel volunteering is, because of this special gift, it makes me to want to give back even more to show my appreciation for the blessings in my life. Fortunately for me, I am not alone in that desire. My guy and I regularly volunteer together. It only seems fitting since it’s what brought us together. Not only that, it continues to bring us closer.
Together, we’re determined to make a difference. And with him at my side, I know that we can.
Back in action on the volunteer scene
USO volunteering
Although I’ve been MIA on the blogging scene that’s simply not the case when it comes my commitment to volunteering! As promised in my last post, I came home ready to serve those who served. In fact, within a few days of my return from volunteering for duty as part of the Unified Command’s response to the BP Oil Spill in Louisiana, I was back at Walter Reed dealing poker to Wounded Warriors through the USO.
It was great to see a lot of familiar faces at the Mologne House for our bimonthly Texas Hold ‘Em poker tournament as well as a few new ones. This is by far my favorite event with the USO and I blog about it often. However, something new this time around: Montel Williams was a guest dealer. He was pretty cool to everyone and made it a point to deal to every table. He added a new element to the night and all the troops and their families were excited to meet him and show him their poker faces.
P2V volunteering
Two Saturdays ago I showed up at Fort Belvoir for the Doggie Days with Pets2Vets. This volunteer assignment was going to be a chill event that centered on informing attendees what Pets 2 Vets is all about, but it turned out to be anything but chilly. Temperatures were soaring that day and were well over 100 degrees. Fortunately there were kiddie pools everywhere to keep the pooches cool, but not too many people ventured out due to the extreme heat.
It was still a great chance to catch up with Pets 2 Vets founder David Sharpe and hear that the organization, still really in its infancy, is continuing to grow. From their website, P2V seeks to alleviate the psychological suffering of our nation’s heroes and to reduce the number of sheltered animals in the United States by:
- Aiding our military veterans, law enforcement officers, emergency first responders, and their families with rehabilitation through animal companionship;
- Saving sheltered animals from euthanasia by providing them with a loving home;
- Increasing public awareness of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI) and other challenges facing today’s heroes;
- Rallying support for animal welfare and the adoption of sheltered animals.
Baseball outing
One of the toughest things about coming home was learning that one of my favorite Wounded Warriors was back in the hospital and continuing to have issues related primarily to his war-related injuries from two years ago. While he wasn’t up for visits at the hospital, my boyfriend and I made sure to pick up his son and take him out to a baseball game and get him off Walter Reed for a few hours of fun. I know it puts his dad’s mind at ease to know his family is taken care of and we had a blast with G in Baltimore.
First, we got into the Harbor area a bit early so we decided to start our day at the Discovery Port. Let me just say if you have kids, take them to that place. I think he would have spent all day climbing around in there if we let him. Alas, we had tickets to see the Orioles take on the Minnesota Twins, my hometown team. We had to leave a bit early due to the impending storm, but all-in-all it was a pretty fantastic day. Yet, the most rewarding part came later in a simple message to me.
After dropping G off at home, who was exhausted from the day’s activities, I received a text from his father who told me that if we had met sooner I would be the godmother to his son. Words can’t even describe how much that meant to me. Ralph is one of the toughest and bravest Soldiers I know and the fact that he trusts me that much, well, that’s just priceless. Honestly, those few words solidified for me how important it is for our troops to know that we’re here for them after all they’ve given for us. That extends to their families and if I can do more, I’m glad he knows that I’ll be here.
A part of me is missing
It’s been a long 3.5 weeks as part of the Deepwater Horizon response to the BP oil spill. When I volunteered for 30 days of duty with the National Guard to support the Coast Guard, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it’s been rough. And not just because of the long hours in the hot sun with 100 percent humidity and almost no time off. More so because I haven’t had free time to do what I love most: volunteer in the community.
Volunteering is such a big part of my life these days that not being able to do it feels like I’m being deprived. Of course I recognize that serving my country is rewarding in its own way. But I miss being more hands on and making a difference in smaller ways with great love.
This means I’m already filling my calendar with events in the coming weeks in anticipation of my return to DC. First up I plan on volunteering with the USO to deal poker. That’s a regular event for me and I words cannot describe how much I miss hanging out with my Wounded Warriors. It’s truly one of the most humbling activities I participate in. Their sacrifices are immeasurable and spending time with them always reminds me how lucky we are to have such brave men and women in this country willing to defend our freedom.
I’m also excited to get involved with an event with another organization that supports the troops, Pets 2 Vets. As I find more opportunities in July and August I’m happy to share them. Of course, I’m always open to new ideas on how to get involved so please feel free to share yours with me too.
It won’t be long now until I’m home and back making a difference like I love to do. And undoubtedly I’ll be complete again.
