Local Video
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| Volunteering: From compassion to action |
By: GINA FRANKLIN, Guest columnist
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Posted: Friday, January 29, 2010 9:22 pm
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A quote attributed to Tenzu Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, reads: “If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” Over a period of two years, my beloved sister, brother and father died each from different health conditions. I assumed responsibility for my 91-year-old mother, my 20-year marriage ended, and I lost my job.
In my mid-50s, I was an unemployed sandwich generation single parent with two teenage girls. My overwhelming impulse was to curl into a fetal position and wail at a cruel world. Instead, my childhood teachings lead me to look at the lives of others less fortunate than me and to volunteer.
Something powerful happens when you step outside of your own misery and enter the world of others who are worse off than you. First, you stop obsessing about your own troubles. Your thoughts become occupied with the gratefulness of the person you are helping. Your body begins to relax. Your breath becomes deeper. You smile. And then, the pendulum swings and you are having fun, you are energized and by the end of day, you are filled with a sense of purposefulness. You see your own circumstances as less severe and more manageable than you had once imagined. You feel the goodness that comes from giving. Relationships form with people you would not have necessarily ever met. You are part of something larger than yourself and you realize that when you need help you are not alone.
In Northfield, you can begin your volunteer experience through 5th Bridge which connects people in need with people to help. 5th Bridge can, for example, refer you to Rice County Habitat for Humanity. Over the past 10 years, with the pure tenacity of volunteers and donors, we have built 19 modest, affordable homes right here in Northfield, Faribault, Lonsdale, Nerstrand and Dundas that can be bought by families of four earning $35,000 or less. Our families give 350 hours of sweat equity to build their own homes, so you can work alongside them as their dream becomes reality. If you don’t want to swing a hammer, we need your talent and leadership on our board and committees. Your business, corporation, organization or school can fulfill civic citizenship and service learning by having employees and students sponsoring portions of a build or an entire home. You may have goods or skills you can contribute.
Rice County needs over 3,000 affordable homes to meet the current need of low income families who often struggle with a disabled family member, serious illness and/or are single heads of household. We intend to build three homes in 2010, four in 2011 and with your support, five in 2012. Come join us through 5th Bridge or directly by contacting our VISTA Volunteer Coordinator, Pam Swanson at ricehabitatvolunteer@gmail.com. Together, we can get beyond ourselves. Together, we can make compassion action.
— Gina Franklin is Rice County Habitat for Humanity’s director of development. |
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