Letters from a vet who appreciates America and a social worker’s
thoughts on teen volunteerism
Veteran grateful to this fine
country for help in tough times
Dear Editor,
Memorial Day and the Fourth of July are both holidays that we celebrate and in so doing honor our American heritage. With the economy hurting, people are hurting, and we need to focus on what we have and not so much on what we do not have, count our blessings and move on.
I was serving in the United States Air Force during the Korean conflict and suffered a nervous breakdown. I was treated in a military hospital and later discharged with a disability. I re-entered treatment at the Veterans Administration Mental Hospital in Palo Alto. The staff there felt that there was a good chance of recovery for me, and matched me up with a fine on-site therapist. I became well enough to leave the hospital and begin to live a life on my own. But I was struggling and the VA continued to support me with medications and outpatient therapy.
Eventually I found a sweetheart who said, “So you have had a nervous breakdown, so what?” That was the best “dose of medicine” I ever heard. Roxie and I have been married 51 years, raised three wonderful daughters and have six happy healthy grandchildren. The VA played big part in getting me started on this life journey.
In the last six months the VA has replaced both of my worn out knees. Since my disability was service connected, they covered the expense. I know the VA is not perfect, nor is any HMO that big without its faults. But I have tried to thank every doctor, nurse, or therapist who has helped me. I thought about writing a letter to the VA to thank them, but it seemed too big and intangible.
So, here is my g Greatful-gram to anyone who reads it. The United States government is “of the people, by the people and for the people!” So, for all of you fellow Americans, I cannot thank you enough for what you have done for me.
Marvin Thomas, Gilroy
The Golden Quill is awarded occasionally for a well-written letter.
How to make the teen volunteer
experience a worthwhile endeavor
Dear Editor,
When I read the article this morning about Gilroy Unified School District’s consideration of making community service a requirement for graduation, the Albert Schweitzer quote immediately came to mind: “One thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve.”
I know this to be true. Working at Community Solutions, I am privileged to see the impact our volunteers and employees make each day as they give a part of themselves to others. Community service provides teens with an opportunity to extend beyond themselves and their experiences, contribute to the community, uncover hidden talents and interests, discover potential career opportunities, and feel appreciated and valued.
A well-matched volunteer experience is a win-win-win for the student, the organization, and the community. Then why did a sense of dread start to surface when I read the article? Perhaps it is because we have a serious imbalance of supply-and-demand when it comes to community service. Each month, our agency receives numerous calls from teens looking for volunteer opportunities.
These calls take on a more frequent – and panicked – tone as the school year draws to a close. Few, if any, of our local organizations have the luxury of a volunteer coordinator, which means someone is doing this function in addition to an already-demanding job. Volunteers cannot just be plugged into a time slot; providing a meaningful experience requires sufficient time and careful planning by nonprofit staff. Many schools, scouting organizations, church groups, and juvenile court programs currently have community service requirements. However, these groups may be unaware of the limitations agencies have that impact our ability to easily accommodate teen volunteers.
These limitations include client confidentiality issues, supervision requirements for under-age volunteers, and limited opportunities for short-term volunteers, to name a few. There currently is no coordinated local effort on either the supply or the demand side of the community service issue. However, the South County Collaborative is an effective vehicle through which a coordinated effort could be developed. I encourage the schools and others to bring the Collaborative into their discussions as they move forward.
For now, let me share a few words of advice based on 27 years of experience at our agency: Schools/scouting organizations/churches/juvenile courts – be familiar with the service opportunities in the community as well as the limitations that may exist. Parents – do not make the calls for your teens; this is their experience from start to finish.
The Internet, cell phones, and email make it possible for even the busiest teens to explore the options available to them. Teens – think about what interests you. Be enthusiastic and open to new opportunities. And, do not wait until the last minute. We deeply value our committed volunteers. They donate their time and expertise to help vulnerable families in our community.
A requirement to perform community service should be structured carefully, so that it is not viewed as a burden or punishment. Nurturing the impulse to contribute and donate should be the goal.
Lisa DeSilva, director of development, Community Solutions
