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Volunteerism Helps Stitch Together the Fabric That Binds the World

  • Category: News
  • Posted On:
  • Written By: Rena Salamacha, CEO, Mee Memorial Healthcare System
Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., spoke these profound words to an audience in Montgomery, Ala., back in 1957 — and they still ring true today. We all have the power to transform lives and the world around us. It begins with raising your hand to say “I can help.”

With National Volunteer Week (April 16-22) nearly upon us, it’s incumbent upon each of us to answer Dr. King’s question for ourselves. The week serves to recognize the impact of volunteer service and the power of volunteers to tackle society’s greatest challenges, to build stronger communities and be a force that transforms the world.

Founded in 1974, the holiday has grown each year, with countless volunteer projects and special events scheduled throughout the week. Today more than ever, it’s clear that volunteering helps to create a more beautiful tomorrow.

The word volunteer comes from the Latin word voluntarius, meaning willing or of one’s own choice. This Latin verb originated from the Latin noun voluntas, meaning will or desire.

And that’s really what it comes down to — having the will or desire to help others, even in small ways.

We all live busy lives, and finding time to volunteer can be difficult. However, the benefits of volunteering can be enormous, both personally and to the broader community. Nobody loves a place as much as the people who live there. Volunteering offers vital help to worthwhile causes, and the community.

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