Youngstown’s 2009 Day of Service
Youngstown — Posted on January 14, 2009 at 10:19 am“Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
On Monday, January 19–Martin Luther King Jr Day–our nation will experience a flurry of activity throughout the country as citizens work together to serve each other. I received a call from Ohioan Lauren Hnatowski, who is volunteering for the Presidential Inauguration Committee, asking what I could do in my community for this National Day of Service.
In the fall of 2007, I created an effort called the Center for Altruism. Like you, I believe in helping others, but after the initial project to help clean up the Campbell Worker Housing the organization has lived a merely nominal existence.
Lauren’s call reminded me what’s at stake in these uncertain times, and I agreed to talk to some people and figure out what could be done. Here’s what I’m asking for your help with:
First: Put out the call today to your neighbors and co-workers, asking for donations of basic staples that will help those in need. These staples include: diapers (large: 4-5-6), can foods, paper products (like toilet paper or napkins), peanut butter, soup, mac&cheese, bags of rice or beans, canned vegetables. Cans of pork and beans are also suggested. Collect these items Friday and over the weekend to bring with you on Monday.
Second: Drop the items off Monday, between 10 and 2 at First Presbyterian at 201 Wick Avenue, between YSU and downtown. At First Presbyterian at 10:30, we’ll come together and talk about how we can effectively serve our community during the coming year. We need your ideas.
There will be three short presentations from leaders in the community. Phil Kidd, organizer with the Mahoning Valley Organizing Collaborative, will talk about community organizing, which has been much in the news over the last year. “Professional activist” Susie Beiersdorfer will talk about community volunteering and what it means to her. Brian Corbin, director of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Youngstown, will talk about service and need, which he has seen up close for many years here, in addition to his post as National Secretary for Catholic Charities USA.
Thank you in advance for your participation and for all that you do each day. First Presbyterian, founded in 1799-the oldest in the Western Reserve, is graciously hosting us in their Hellen Chapel. Please enter through the kitchen door, which is off the parking lot (on the north side of the building, accessible from both Wick and N Champion St). Again, donations are accepted between 10 and 2. We’ll begin at 10:30 and go for about an hour.
Dr. King said, “Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve.” Let’s be great together on Monday. See you there.
Please share this info on your blogs and e-mail it to your friends. Thanks for your support. Please RSVP to tsc@altruismcenter.org, so we know how many participants to expect.
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6 Comments
The kitchen door is off the parking lot. Elsie Dursi
Tyler, you wrote in your last line, that Dr. King said, “Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve.” Let’s be great together on Monday.
I don’t think of myself as great when my help maintains the status of continuing the dependency of those that I’m trying to help. I don’t think that Dr. King meant for us to keep treating people as helpless victims. But mostly I wonder how the receiver thinks of my contribution or help. Does he/she think of themselves as great? If they are receiving then as King says, to be great, how can they serve? King’s challenge is for us to give in a way that sets up for the receiver to give as well. Each of us as individuals may not get to be great, but we can try to reach King’s vision and in doing so, help us all together walk towards greatness.
Thanks, Elsie. I’ve updated the post.
Thanks for sharing your perspective, Tony. To me, the act of giving is a reward. People find themselves in needy circumstances for a host of reasons, and I don’t believe that helping–regardless of the receiver–presupposes any kind of judgment on them–helpless or otherwise.
I agree that people want to be self-sufficient. Some are more capable than others. I think help breeds hope for some, though perhaps dependency in others. How do we know in advance which will result?
I’ve received so much in my life and haven’t always been able or thoughtful enough to give back. I’m okay with tipping the scales back the other direction, from time to time.
Tony and Tyler touch important points about motivation and action. It is always been an important part of my life and understanding that there is no one too rich or too poor, that one cannot mutually grow by an encounter be it in “charity” or “justice.” To be “great” may refer to each person’s call to live fully in relationship with an “Other” within the framework that each person is made in the Image of God…that is Great News.
Thanks for organizing this on Monday, Tyler…and Tony..bring some ideas and leaflets about the TimeBank to that we can see how this mutual relationship does and can work.
Thanks, Brian. Glad to have your involvement.