Most times you can’t see into the future.
You don’t aways know which choices you make and actions you take will “pay off.”
In my experience, there are a few that are absolutely sure bets, no regrets choices.
And they are volunteering with friends, neighbors, and other community members to create spaces to welcome everyone in the community to come together to play, to learn, to celebrate, and to work on accomplishing goals that serve needs greater than your own.
To do hard things together for the greater good, things that lasts beyond your use date.
Building a community park is one way to build community while building skills for lifelong learning and modeling for our children the value of engagement, giving back, and physically contributing to future generations.
I didn’t realize how lucky we were when our newly adopted town began a community build park project almost 30 years ago. I was totally excited about engaging the children’s imaginations and the community in designing and building the park, but as an overwhelmed new teacher I was not thrilled about adding evening volunteer hours to my already crazy day.
“We don’t even have kids yet,” I thought. “Can’t we just donate money and let someone else do the heavy lifting this time around?”
Thank goodness my tiredness and crankiness did NOT win out.
My hubby and I talked about all the reasons why we – well he’d already signed up, I should help too – for the good of the community – and why it would be good for us. We were planning to have kids, we wanted to get to know more young families, we wanted this town we’d chosen to be the best it could be.
And we did, and it was good.
It was exciting to be a part of building something big, and real, that you could touch and see everyday.
Since I lack building skills, I took shifts in the food service area. I helped while chatting and meeting new people. The organizers had done all the hard prep work giving me the opportunity to just show up and help with no stress on my part. Now I understand what a gift that was!
And now, 30 years later, another gift!
A group of young moms took on the responsibility of not only saving this treasure of a park which had exceeded it’s lifespan, but also giving new generations a better park, and all of us in the community the gift of participation.
There’s been more than a year’s worth of planning, fundraising, and preparation.
It’s been fantastic to see how much the community has come together to support this work. Read about the Winters Friends of the Library involvement here.
And the build – the fun part – is next week! And we get to help, again!
Pierre, who has skills, is already signed up to be a team leader. I’m signed up for some unskilled shifts.
And if you have teens in school talk with them about signing up for some shifts.
Why?
Because this is the kind of lifelong learning, participating in real world projects where you apply your skills to make a difference can be empowering for teens.
It’s even meaningful for little ones who aren’t old enough to be at the build. If you take them by to watch what’s happening, you can help them understand how you are contributing as a family.
The moments you volunteer together matter. The causes you care about and show up for matter.
And every time you attend an event at the park, or even pass it as you drive through town, you get a hit of goodness.
We built that.
We were part of that.
We did it together.
It belongs to us and we belong to this community.
And we care about our future.
And that is a good bet!
Do you need other ideas for participating in building and community?
It doesn’t have to be a park. You can look for opportunities with Habitat for Humanity, volunteering with reconstruction and clean up after storm events, or create a project that your community needs.
Over to You:
Have you participated in a build? With your kids? Would you?
Please add your ideas and suggestions in the comments!