Realizing the Dream

"Everybody can be great because everybody can serve," Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Today marks the 23rd anniversary of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. This day should mean much more to people than no mail delivery. Many Americans across the country use today to celebrate and honor the life of Dr. King by dedicating their time to a service project.

A noted theme for the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday has become “A Day On, Not a Day Off.” People of all ages are encouraged to set aside time to participate in service projects in their communities. This further commemorates the legacy of Dr. King by meeting local community needs, tolerance, peace and equality for all.

During his lifetime, Dr. King sought common ground on which people from all walks of life could join together to address important community issues. Service, he realized, was the great common ground.

There is no time like the present to seek out your community’s needs, and to honor the work of Martin Luther King Jr. It is a time to take action, and a time to make the change in our communities. United Way's focus is on creating opportunities of a better life for everyone, and volunteerism is a major component of that focus.

Our community is a generous one, through monetary gifts, but also through volunteer efforts. I challenge you to continue Dr. King's mission throughout the year. There are so many ways to get involved!

You can help in annual events like Make A Difference Day in the Fall and National Youth Service Day in the Spring. But it doesn't stop there. Programs across the community have many projects, committees and other needs where you can lend your time, talents and service.

To see a list of current opportunities, click here. You can also subscribe to the Volunteer E-Updates, an email notification about opportunities as they become available (sign up information below).

Please contact the Sarah Krenn at the Marshfield Area United Way Volunteer Center at 384-9992 or e-mail Sarah for more information about listed opportunities or to subscribe to the Volunteer E-Updates.

Make LIVE UNITED a resolution you keep in 2009

It’s hard for me to make New Year’s Resolutions. I didn’t see the point because I could never find the motivation to keep them. Once March rolls around, I have a hard time even remembering what they were.

So last year I did something different. I asked myself what small steps I could take to create change in myself and the world around me. I wanted to focus on clear efforts that would have long-term benefits. Each step had a specific goal and several ways I could practice new habits every day.

In the spring of 2008 United Way of America rolled out a new focus for the United Way Brand and Impact System: LIVE UNITED and Advancing the Common Good. And oddly enough, when I learned more about these ideals, they paralleled my thought process of small actions to create change.

LIVE UNITED is call to action for individuals across the community to unite and create a better tomorrow. When we reach out a hand to one, we influence the condition of all—creating positive ripples out to the community as a whole. When we think of our lives as connected to the lives of others around us, we have the power to create opportunities for everyone to have a better life.

So this year, I challenge you to LIVE UNITED. Here are eight easy ways to get you started:

1. Attend Vision Councils or any of the other action committees throughout the Marshfield area.

2. Give generously to organizations close to home and close to your heart.

3. Open doors for others, say please and thank you, and smile.

4. Learn about community needs, then advocate for those that you think take priority.

5. Tell people you know to dial 2-1-1 when they are having a hard time or don’t know where to turn for community services and programs.

6. Lend a Hand through local nonprofits, service clubs, school organizations or church functions.

7. Double check your nonperishable food items to make sure they’re not expired before you give to food drives throughout the year.

8. Write a letter to your congressional or local representative. If you don’t let them know what’s important to you, no one will.

Make LIVE UNITED a resolution you’ll keep (and remember past March). Learn more about United Way and how you can Give. Advocate. Volunteer. click here to visit our Web site or call 394-9992.