Dear Friends,
One of my favorite volunteer jobs is to bag food at the Alameda County Food Bank. I’m usually joined by coworkers from Sterling.
Among the reasons I enjoy my volunteer work there is that I know I’m contributing, however small, to community-wide efforts to help people who don’t have enough food to eat. There’s usually a sobering lecture/video about food insecurity before we start work, so it’s clear that our efforts do make a difference.
I have another reason for enjoying it. There is a clear end — visible results of my work – bags of potatoes or carrots or whatever we’re assigned to put in bags. You may find that strange, but much of my daily work produces results not readily seen or visible. However, at my volunteer job, I can clearly see the fruits of my labor. For me, an added benefit is that it provides respite from my “day” job.
I imagine some of you may share these feelings of accomplishment at seeing the products of your work – from cooking to gardening to things made by hand. Harder to appreciate, but no less important and valuable, are efforts that contribute to services that help people. I think of teachers who have the patience and love of children to guide and teach them. Or those in military services who work behind the scenes to keep us safe. Or chaplains and grief counselors who help people through the grieving process. There is dignity in labor – whether paid or unpaid — wherever and however it is manifested.
I will leave you with a quote from Martin Luther King that summarizes eloquently the point I’m trying to make: He said, “All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.”
Best,
Cora
