(emily)
“I have seen Americans making great and sincere sacrifices for the key common good and a hundred times I have noticed that, when needs be, they almost always gave each other faithful support.”
–Alexis de Tocqueville, 1835
Not only that, but American volunteers have continued through our history to serve our country: volunteers collected funds for the colonists during the American Revolution. Clara Barton established the American Red Cross in 1881. Volunteers set up soup kitchens and bread lines during the Great Depression. John F. Kennedy created the Peace Corps in 1961. The Handson Network (originally known as the Points of Light Foundation and started in 1989) is the largest organization in America for civic involvement.
The volunteer spirit is a great American attribute. Abraham Lincoln once said, “I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him.”
Honest Abe’s words challenge me to try to live better, not just for my loved ones and myself, but for my community as well. It’s one of the reasons why I love working at Franklin Goose because we are concerned with making sure that our lifestyle does improve our community by providing safe and eco-friendly products, plus classes and working with local groups like the Cloth Diaper Project.
If you’re interested in volunteering in your community, here are a couple of places you can get started looking.
For our local Richmond, VA, community:
Richmond Good Life: Volunteer Opportunities
For our nationwide community:
Volunteering and Civic Life in America