By Jan Schultz,
Volunteer at St. Isidore Gift & Thrift in Imperial
In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus says to his disciples in chapter 9, “The harvest is good but laborers are scarce.”
We have all heard that passage in the past, but have we taken it to heart? It’s something to consider as we celebrate National Volunteer Appreciation Week April 21-27 across this country.
Where would our churches and their many outreach efforts be, if not for volunteers? Catholic Social Services is an important part of those outreach programs, among them its four gift and thrift stores across the Lincoln Diocese. Most of the day-to-day work to keep the shelves filled and staff the hours the stores are open come from volunteers, not to mention those who voluntarily donate their gently used items to the stores.
As this country and our local communities continue to see a drop in volunteerism, we should all reconsider how we commit our time each week. Is there not an hour or two that can be dedicated to volunteerism? Just think what that extra hour or two, when multiplied, can do to aid our churches, their programs and your communities.
The 2024 National Volunteer Appreciation Week theme is, “Every Moment Matters.” That is so true when you consider how much one moment matters when we volunteer.
We only have to look at Scripture and the words from Jesus and his disciples to realize they also knew, centuries ago, what the value is when we give to others. Acts, chapter 20, verse 35, relates, “You need to recall the words of the Lord Jesus himself, who said, ‘There is more happiness in giving than receiving.’”
Many know how much better they feel after they volunteer, especially when you see that it is helping others. It makes you feel like your time mattered to someone else. In other words, “Every Moment Matters.”
If we want to take it a step further, doesn’t Jesus really call, or actually command, us to give of ourselves to others?
On Holy Thursday, which we just celebrated, in chapter 13 of John’s Gospel, Jesus says, “But if I washed your feet—I who am Teacher and Lord—then you must wash each other’s feet. What I just did was to give you an example: as I have done, so you must do.”
However, I myself, a weekly volunteer at St. Isidore’s Gift and Thrift in Imperial, take the former passage to heart as I schedule my hours each week to volunteer. While I do not know the people who are helped with the proceeds from St. Isidore’s sales, I’ve heard the stories of them. And it makes me feel good knowing, in some small way, I was able to help that happen by volunteering.
I’ve heard how an abused mother with young children received furnishings for her home after relocating; how someone down on his luck was helped with having his utilities paid; how another was helped with food from the pantry.
If you think about it—every moment does matter.
