Volunteer
Testimonial
By Joan
Houston, 2012 Board Secretary
September 25, 2011
Volunteering with Meals on Wheels is what Lucky and I did every Monday
morning for ten years. I think we made a BIG difference in some lives but rather
than thinking how we could make a BIG difference, we did not ignore the small
daily differences that we could make which, over time, add up to the big
differences that we often don't foresee. During those ten years we met many
clients who needed our help, for just a few days, a couple of months, or every
day.
They all had their story to tell and we were involved in their
lives whether they lived in a penthouse or one of the sorriest rooms I have ever
seen (right above one of the stores on Venice Avenue.) We gave of ourselves and
our clients made us feel welcome in their lives. I remember one new client who
apologized that she did not offer me coffee one day. I explained that we could
not spend extra time with clients because the meals tasted a lot better when
they were HOT.
Another client requested that I take out her garbage
because it was a long walk to the bins. My favorite little old lady was about to
celebrate her 100th birthday and her daughter was kind enough to let me know and
we were offered some of her cake. We made the date a little more special by
presenting her with flowers and a card. Another client would not let me go until
I witnessed her physical therapy exercises after a hip operation. I was
supposedly the expert since I had told her of my hip replacements. We enjoyed
our clients so much.
Lucky used to tell the story about one client in a
penthouse who offered him a $5 tip. He assured her that we do not accept tips
but she said to him (while shaking a finger at him) "Sonny, don't ever turn down
money". He took it and turned it in at the office.
I believe we are here
to leave a legacy, to add what we can to life and not take away from life.
Volunteering is sometime earning more by doing things that pay nothing. That
feeling of satisfaction will remain with me for life. I hope you will all
experience this in your volunteering. What we do for ourselves dies with us.
What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal.
I'll close
with this quote from Mother Teresa about getting involved: "What I do, YOU
cannot do, but what YOU do, I cannot do. The needs are great, and none of us,
including me, ever do great things. But we can do small things with great love,
and together we can do something wonderful".