We’ve have had a lot of stories about good deeds and volunteers recently.
It is kind of a holiday thing. Thankfully, bad news often slacks off during that time of year and gives us a chance to focus on the kindness humans can show.
Our features staff was busy throughout the holiday season collecting information on the needs of charitable organizations. The organizations’ representatives tell the staff what kind of help they need in the coming year. The idea is to let people know what they can do to help specific organizations.
As I recall, when they started this effort a few years ago, the features staff actually had to call around and get some organizations to participate. Not any more. Agency reps clamor to be included.
This year, there was so much interest, the listings continued past New Year’s Day. I thought for a while they might make it to Martin Luther King’s birthday, which is Monday.
Sure, all these organizations can use money, but they can also use volunteers. Volunteering has been another topic of recent stories, such as Dave Perozek’s report on Delta, a Springdale High School club that is all about students volunteering.
Volunteering has taken on new importance at the high school level because many colleges want to see community involvement when they decide who to accept.
Another reason to do community service in high school: Arkansas students can get one academic credit for 75 hours of documented service.
I know community service is one of the first things I look for when considering scholarship applicants. No community service gets little consideration unless the student has worked full time during his or her high school years.
The Delta students who attend Springdale High School have spent several weeks at George Elementary working with students on a variety of things, such as multiplication. Soon, Delta members will move on Tyson Middle School to work with the kids there.
At Rogers Heritage High School, Brig Caldwell, the school’s student relation coordinator, is working on a database to connect War Eagles with volunteer opportunities across the community.
Then there is James Sandoval. Amye Buckley wrote about James, a 25-year-old graduate of Rogers High School who is back at his middle school working as a volunteer. It’s James’ job.
I don’t think most people could help but be inspired by James. He started volunteering for James Goodwin when he was principal at Oakdale and moved to Elmwood when Goodwin retired. He does what needs to be done: makes copies, checks the restroom for boys trying to avoid class. If it needs to be done and he can, James Sandoval does it.
James has some health issues and, for now, volunteering keeps him busy, he told Amye.
James Sandoval puts a lot of people to shame. They sit at home in front of the television when there are things they could be doing to help the community. Many of them are waiting for it — whatever it is — to be done for them. Frankly, the sense of entitlement many people have makes me sick.
Not bragging here, but I have spent a lot of years volunteering in this community. At first, it was expected by the boss. Then, it became habit, and, for the most part, I have enjoyed it.
When I went lame, I had to pull back some and am just now getting back into the swing of things. Looking around, however, I ask myself, why me? There are a lot of people in this community who could be volunteering. A lot do. Many don’t.
There are a myriad of excuses as to why people don’t volunteer. You’ve heard them all. Heck, you may have even used one or more of them.
Here’s the thing, James Sandoval doesn’t use an excuse to get out of volunteering. If he doesn’t, why should you and I?
Give it some consideration. Do you really want to be shown up by a 25-year-old?
LEEANNA WALKER IS LOCAL EDITOR OF THE ROGERS MORNING NEWS AND THE SPRINGDALE MORNING NEWS. FOLLOW HER ON TWITTER AT WWW.TWITTER.COM/NWALEEANNA.