Accents
Volunteers: Helga and Betsy, Rinus and Jim
Get off your comfy couch, and get even more comfortable. How? Helga Streuber, Betsy Redding, Rinus Dekker, and Jim Meeks know how: They do volunteer work. In this part of the world (the U.S. of A.) where time is a precious commodity, the four find time to give away. And when they do, a most gratifying feeling sets in.
I was waiting for daughter Raileen who was making the rounds of her patients at the Mercy Hospital here at Redding, California, when the lady asked, "Care for coffee or juice? Or chocolate?" Having just taken breakfast, I shook my head at the gracious offer. She was pushing a tray cart full of goodies—bread, candy bars, juices. Her kindness was so inviting that before she moved to another fellow in the waiting room, I engaged the lady in brief conversation.
Helga Streuber is German married to another German. They've lived here in the States for so long, the couple contributing to the melting pot of cultures that is America. Having retired from her job for 32 years now, she enjoys volunteer work, 4 hours every Monday and Wednesday. She said she gets to meet lots of people, like this Filipina for instance, and "meeting them widens my horizon." Pushing the cart, Helga headed for the elevator its door closing on the sight of the volunteer's uniform she was proudly wearing with the patch of CHW that stands for Catholic Healthcare West. She still has four floors to go, she said, each with a waiting room with visitors for her to serve.
Betsy Redding is spry, about my age (proud 70!), plus or minus a year or two. A true-blue American, she is attuned to the volunteerism ethic, certainly on the same wavelength as the bevy of her fellow seniors doing volunteer work at the Shasta Regional Medical Center here at Redding. All garbed in blue scrub topper that identifies them from the nurses, they were seated behind the Information Desk on the ready for tasks requested of them.
Betsy could easily push the wheelchair of one heavy patient, if need be. For the moment, what we needed was the way to the Medical Center's café. How sprightly she directed Rudy and me to the hospital basement, passing through long corridors down to the cafeteria. She does long service hours that do not bother her daily schedule in her own home. Volunteering makes for "good physical fitness." Reason why at her age Betsy is so agile and vivacious.
Rinus Dekker and Jim Meeks knocked at Raileen's house one Sunday morning, hands full of the Bible and religious magazines. Rinus from the Netherlands is of another culture come to America. After long years of his job with computers, he finally got plenty of time "in the service of the Lord." I was full of questions, the kind often directed to Jehovah's Witnesses like their disallowing blood transfusion and no saluting of the flag. How quickly Rinus and Jim would leaf through the Bible and point out the passages that support the contention of their religion.
Jim, looking much too young to reach the retirement bracket, is a government employee who gave this particular weekend to do volunteer work for his congregation. He and Rinus spoke of the conversion work they do and how rapidly Jehovah's Witnesses is growing worldwide as they cited figures. They left magazines for me to read and even a website for more info.
Helga, Betsy, Rinus, Jim. Just four of thousands other spirited souls who want to make a difference. What's in it for them? Not a cent, no tangible gain whatsoever. Widening one's horizon, strengthening the physique, propagating the faith—all wonderful reasons to do volunteer work. I always think there's something more beyond that—a core value volunteers believe in: to make a difference, to help or effect change in the life of another no matter how small.
And further to this reportage on volunteer workers I've met, I always think volunteer service should be a prescription to politicians: a few hours of service in public hospitals, streets, markets, parks. Many of them spend time in excessive pleasurable pursuits. Spare a little of that time for the common tao you have pledged to serve while on the campaign trail. Then "servants of the people" won't be an oxymoron. Put your time and muscle where your mouth is. Sincerely. Never for show. What a great learning experience that would be—for a few hours, within your term, feel how the common man/woman earn a living under heavy economic pressures. Experience will make you a better mayor, administrator, legislator.
Get off your couch and do volunteer service. Also prescribed to privileged folks and overcompensated bureaucrats. Better than the feel-good check-writing, the amount therein being just a chip off the monies you have accumulated through conscientious official efforts and, I hope not amassed through kick-backs or corruptions. (Comments to lagoc@hargray.com)