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OPINION
This last weekend confirmed that the greatest asset any community can have is its’ people. After spending the afternoon, evening, night, wee morning hours and breakfast with hundreds of people volunteering their time for a worthy cause (cancer research), it reconfirmed the comment political hopefuls inevitably make after weeks of knocking on doors - “I met an awful lot of nice people”. From the announcers booth at the Mesa Ridge High School track you could see the tents in the “infield”, the hundreds of walkers and a few runners making their way around the track again, and again, and again. Teams from schools, businesses, work, churches, service clubs, cub scouts, an engaged couple (they were the whole team), fire fighters, partners in a Springs law firm, and teams of friends were brought together by design, chance and happenstance. With ages ranging from “still a stroller” to “collecting a pension”, there was significant inter-generational support and communication. At 3:30 in the morning everyone on the track is your comrade in arms and encouragement is given and received. Over 30 businesses, (and a Poker Run) donated goods, services, and money. Most have a presence in the Fountain Valley, but not all. Most were announced and had track markers or their logo on the tee shirts, but some preferred to remain anonymous. They all could have reached a bigger audience by spending that same money advertising elsewhere, but we are thankful they chose the Relay. Some band members, committee heads and team captains took time off from their day jobs to set up early. While the dozens of team captains and committee heads were volunteers who were ready, willing and able to take on the details of putting on an event like this one, the success of this event and others like it, rest on the fact that so many people stepped up and were willing to inconvenience themselves doing what they could to make a difference for someone else. The “good guys” aren’t limited to annual events. Like all non-profits, the Fountain Valley Senior Center depends heavily on volunteers. Many of them are regulars who have been helping out for years. Local service clubs are made-up of caring people committed to making a difference. Sometimes people rally around a cause, like the neighbors who joined forces to save McCrea Reservoir (Carp Lake) several years ago and who can still be counted on for an annual cleanup. Hats off to everyone who participated in an act of kindness and caring this past year. Whether organized or informal, anonymous or name in lights, moved a mountain or flattened a molehill, it made a difference. CONTACT THE WRITER • HISEY4CD4@MSN.COM |
