Let’s keep that spirit of volunteerism alive

Editorials

Discussion

October 30, 2009

Anonymous Pharos-Tribune Fri Oct 30, 2009, 08:57 AM EDT

Even when she isn’t feeling the best due to her own problems, 12-year-old Kori Brown keeps planning, raising funds and working for others, especially those stricken with cancer.

The Maconaquah sixth-grader’s dedication to and zeal for raising funds for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life in spite of her own congenital blood disease led producers of the ABC television show “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” to choose her family as the recipients of a brand-new home that was unveiled Tuesday.

Numerous businesses and hundreds, if not thousands, of people volunteered to help tear down the old house and build a new one for the Cowan-Brown family. Volunteers worked throughout the day and night to make sure the house was completed on time. So many volunteers turned out at times that there were too many to work on the home site. Many were sent to work for organizations in Kokomo that needed help.

But now that the lights and cameras are gone and the show’s producers are sorting through hundreds of hours of videotape to create the January show, the need for volunteers in the Cass, Miami, Howard, Pulaski and Carroll county areas remains.

Plenty of area organizations who support individual and community needs, hospitals and nursing homes, schools and museums, youth sports and Scout groups all are in need of volunteers to give a boost to their activities. The directors of all those groups will tell you the volunteers are at the heart of their services.

Let’s take the effort that began last week and turn it into an everyday occurrence. Take time out of your life and volunteer. It doesn’t have to be working on a home, although groups such as Habitat for Humanity would certainly appreciate the help.

Take time to coach young people in sports or take them camping. Spend a few minutes each week helping someone learn to read or to help a child with homework.

Volunteer to spend time with an elderly person confined to their home or a health-care facility. It brightens their days, and it will make you feel better about yourself.

Don’t let the spirit of volunteerism die now that the TV crew has come and gone because one thing is certain: Kori won’t quit just because someone has recognized her efforts.

That young woman is probably already looking for a new way to raise money for Relay for Life.

Text Only | Photo Reprints

Editorials

An outstanding community effort
United Way of Cass County announced this week that it had raised more than $600,000 in its most recent campaign. The campaign’s success is a testament to the generosity of local residents and to the great work of the United Way and its member agencies.

February 9, 2012
Another step forward for local trails
Local officials broke ground this week on the planned Eel River Run from downtown to Riverside Park. The project will expand a trail system of which the community can be proud.

February 8, 2012
White should not return to office
The conviction of Indiana’s secretary of state on charges of voter fraud has left Republicans and Democrats fighting over who will hold the office. No matter how the fight comes out, Charlie White’s ouster from office should be permanent.

February 7, 2012
A grand success for Indianapolis
The just-ended Super Bowl was the result of decades of preparation. Indianapolis left a great impression on the thousands of visitors who descended on the city.

February 6, 2012
Should schools teach creationism?
The Indiana General Assembly is considering a measure that would allow public schools to teach creationism as long as they include instruction on other reliigious theories. Broadening the instruction to include other religions might address constitutional concerns, but the result might be a class the law’s supporters didn’t envision.

February 4, 2012
Giving every child a chance
Students from Columbia Middle School delivered a message of inclusion in a play last weekend. The message is one that can’t be repeated too often.

February 2, 2012
Testing lawmakers a good idea
A measure requiring drug testing for welfare recipients would also require drug testing for legislators. If lawmakers are going to impose such a requirement on welfare recipients, they should be willing to stand up to the same measure.

February 1, 2012
Peru delivers important message
The city of Peru collected $20,000 last year from property owners who failed to keep their yards mowed. An aggressive enforcement effort can help the city’s finances, but the benefits go beyond dollars and cents.

January 31, 2012
Jail GED program a great step
The issue
The Cass County Sheriff’s Department has begun offering GED
classes for its prisoners.

Our view
The department, and society at large, will see a huge return on that
investment.

January 30, 2012
Ambulance services aren’t cheap
Cass County commissioners are looking at alternatives to the ambulance service provided by Logansport Memorial Hospital. Commissioners will be fortunate to find a less expensive alternative.

January 29, 2012
More Editorials Headlines

Editorials

Search Results

Discussion

Let’s keep that spirit of volunteerism alive

The Indiana Senate last week approved a bill that would allow public schools to teach creationism in science classes as long as they included origin of life theories from other religions. Would you support such a measure?

Site Map

Contact Us