Paying it Forward: Just Be There
Paying it Forward: Just Be There
Time waits for no one. We don’t control it, instead time controls many. Songwords from Alabama in my head. “I’m in a hurry to get things done. Oh, I rush and rush until life’s no fun."
“All I got to do is live and die.”
When we rush about, we lose track of things that matter as we react to others’ priorities.
My 9-year-old grandson, Connor, was excited to play chess while I was visiting Austin. He was waiting outside as I arrived.
Tell me you remember that kind of excitement! The wonder of innocence and living the experience of a moment. Special memories define our character in how we act and treat others. The pursuit of happiness an unalienable right, yet not all find happiness.
Many in our community have no source of such excitement.
We ask, “How can I serve,” meaning “How can I ‘best’ serve?” In search of “best”, we ignore opportunities. Instead, just show up. Answer the phones. Take out the trash. Make the coffee. Clean the breakroom.
Learn what the nonprofit really does and how it really works. That’s the best place you can be, making a difference.
Each volunteer brings unique gifts, needs and personality. If you lead any organization, your team feeds on the enthusiasm around mission success. No excitement, no success, then no help.
Remember who inspired you and how they inspired you. Go help another with a gift of your time. Call your favorite nonprofit, asking, “Can I come by? I’d like to help.”
Fashion Night Out for 2024 will be Thursday Oct 10th, 6pm at the Forum. This every-other-year fundraiser netted over $81,000 for Meals on Wheels two years ago! Tickets can be purchased online at mowwc.org/fno-2024.
Courtney Hubbert and Debbie Bigot of Annie Jewel and Charlie’s shared this fundraiser with Southwest Rotary Club of Wichita Falls recently. Five boutiques show their wares on the runway interspersed with auction packages themed around Golf, Fishing, Hunting and Sleep. Only 500 tickets are available.
I was impressed that the Meals on Wheels website includes a “Host an Event” tab – what a great way to get new fundraising ideas and a project champion!
By the way, Connor won 2 of 3 chess games; perhaps he’s a future chess master. Can you make someone’s day?
Published Wichita Falls Times Record News, Trends Section, Sunday September 22, 2024.
Jack Browne is a community volunteer and former technology sales and marketing executive who worked 40 years at Motorola, MIPS Technologies and other companies. How are the children doing?