Pay It Corner
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[QUOTE=OhioRacer,Dec 13 2006, 12:13 PM] Coincidence? The movie Pay It Forward is on WTBS right now.

 

I'll be waiting for a full report. {{{hugs}}}

 

Me too. So, Jerry. Do you want to tell us in advance what you did with your $50.00?

 

It's a secret

 

Sometimes I listen to the blue grass channel on xm in my wifes car.

Today, I was reminded of this thread by a song titled "can I have some change"

the story line of the song was similar to the post by DB8.

....not nearly so eloquent, though.

Willinathen

 

Personally, I've never been one to give much money. I am wary of how it is spent, and I have never had a particular excess of it myself, being only 2.5 years out of college. I'll drop some change in the Salvation Army bucket, or buy a Toy for a Tot, but that's about it.

However, I've always thought it more important to give my time, which I've done in abundance, notably with the Special Olympics (Villanova University has the only entirely student-run games in the country, and I was a volunteer for two years and a member of the management commitee for two more), an AIDS shelter, amd a variety of other, smaller pursuits. I've always figured people would donate what they could afford. People with more money than time can always donate their money, but until very recently, I've been time-rich and cash-poor.

For whatever reason though, I'm always happier to be in the background of these types of events; I am uncomfortable working directly with the athletes in Special Olympics, or the patients at the AIDS shelter. I'm somewhat ashamed of this discomfort, but there it is (and I'm not a shy person by any means). My working to help them, even indirectly, somewhat outweighs my embarrassment, but it does nag at me.

At any rate, as a new resident of the Chicago suburbs, I've been toying with the idea of finding some type of activity to devote some time to. I don't really relish going into the city, and I live in a pretty afluent area, but I'd like to get involved in coaching a sports team or something. I'd really love to get into teaching sailing (another thing I've volunteered doing in the past), but I don't think there is a lot of opportunity to do that locally. Also, I hate to say it, but being a young, (semi) single guy with no kids, I am very wary of placing myself around kids, especially one-on-one. A misunderstood gesture or even a third party's misinterpretation of your action can really mess up your life. It's sad that we live in a society where I have to consider that risk before donating my time to a worthy cause, but that stigma is there and I can't help but be very conscious of it.

 

How about Habitat for Humanity. You volunteer your time but you don't have to be around the people you're helping if that makes you uncomfortable.

Or volunteering with senior citizens. Or meals-on-wheels.

 

This is my favorite 'cause' as some people already know. Note that you DO get the opportunity to often work with the person(s) who will live in the Habitat house upon which you are working; 350 hours of 'sweat equity' is part of the deal. In fact, I'm going to a board meeting tonight....after going to a funeral this morning in Harrisburg Check out our web site and find my name

Keep the ideas flowing....I'm going to print out this thread tomorrow and take a couple copies along for the guys on Saturday morning. I haven't told any of them about this thread and am interested to get their reaction

 

Jerry,

I will state again that I interpeted this thread as finding new ways to casts the net, in ways that he may not have thought of on his own.

That is my position, and I am sticking to it.

 

"Real Life" update:
After my Habitat for Humanity board meeting last night, there were a couple dozen mini-sub sandwiches leftover. The cleaning crew might eat a couple, but most would be thrown out.

Emboldened by this thread, I took the tray and decided to stop at the park across from the Philly main library on the Parkway. I knew that a few homeless folks hang out there. I pulled up about 8:30 pm and ....whoa.....there must have been 50 guys milling about? Danger for a white guy in a suit? What to do?

I took a deep breath; grabbed the tray and headed to the middle of the crowd. There was already a homeless aid person there, so I just set down the tray and moved towards the shiny suburban Prius. I was humbled by the voices behind me saying "Thank you. God bless. Merry Christmas".

I just go into my car and sat there for a while. The brief experience gave me something to ponder during my drive back to the safe haven of the suburbs.