Of course, it’s the same volunteer week as everywhere else, but at OIM, our volunteers are the best! Why? Our volunteers are on the streets, at the drop in, when it’s hail, snow storm, rain (and extreme rain), hot beyond comprehension and everywhere in between. Giving of their time and energy always, and when the going gets tough, they just roll up their sleeves, dig in and work it through. THEN, they still keep on going despite the fact that they rarely see the fruits of their labours (folks who ‘escape’ the street life, almost always vow never to frequent the downtown core again).
Now that’s commitment!
Why would someone persevere under such circumstances? Dr. Suess, in The Lorax, writes, “Unless someone like you cares a whole, awful lot, things aren’t going to get better, they’re NOT!” and our volunteers take this literally. They want to give back to the community. They want to make a difference. They want to see lives changed. And they are humbled in their service knowing that the folks they serve can never pay them back.
Perhaps the one thing that causes volunteers to keep on coming back is the realization and hope and possibility that any one particular act of kindness may be the thing that is the catalyst for change in someone’s life. “Too often we under estimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” Dr. Felice Leonardo Buscaglia
“To the world you may be only one person. But to one person, you may be the world.”
Respect and love to all who volunteer (especially those who give in service to the poor)!