Prized plants in ruins after ‘Caring’ visit - Journal Gazette Link
I’m dissapointed that an article like this has to be written and especially in this tone. It’s written to make Day of Caring and people volunteering look negative. I understand that reporters roles are to report the news as it happens and I blame our society for desiring the controversy rather than the positive. We’d rather hear the reports of a project that didn’t go quite right over all the projects that went outstanding on DOC.
Over 800 people took time off of work to volunteer in helping keep our city’s non-profits and marginalized homeowners’ homes in good shape. Volunteers served at the very organizations that make our community great and tried to help those neighbors who needed help. Eldery, disabled, single moms, day cares, schools, and others were all assisted on that day. We don’t get the “All American City" status without this effort. I volunteered my time with a group from IPFW and GE at Science Central pull weeds, spread mulch, and build picnic tables as we watched families walk in and out of this great resource in Fort Wayne.
The woman in the article has been a NeighborLink recipient in the past and we have a family of volunteers who’ve spent a long time building a relationship with her. We’re going to bridge the gap with United Way to make sure the house gets painted and Pat receives the assistance that gets offered. This isn’t a statement that NeighborLink is better than United Way, but a statement that we’re here to help out another agency make sure services are provided and a situation fixed.
What the article doesn’t tell you about is the hard work and sensitivity it takes to work with recipients like Pat. Pat has lived in her home for a long time. She’s obviously taken strong ownership in the investments she’s made in her plants. It can be tough helping those in need. The same feelings towards paying for work done at your home happens when volunteers show up to perform similar work and those have to be navigated. Plus, we should work in the same manner as if we were being paid.
The article also doesn’t tell you about the CODE Enforcement issues she’s facing for letting her house deteriate including the paint. She’s at a place of desperation to get these violations corrected in which the volunteers were there to do. There is a point where we have to help homeowners process their options to make good decisions.
Volunteering and assisting people is not easy. It’s why we don’t do it as often as we should. As volunteers, we need to be sensitive to other people and their situation. We should strive to live by the Golden Rule and listen to those we’re serving. This isn’t always easy as we’re not always comfortable with the situations we find ourselves in when serving.
As a community, we also need to honor the efforts people make rather than discouraging people from making an effort at all. I’m not saying this team did everything right and that the homeowner doesn’t have the right to be upset, but the volunteers don’t deserve to be exposed as failures for their efforts.
This type of media creates fear in our non-profits, social service agencies and our volunteers because it’s now known that if you make a mistake, you’re going to be thought of less and be exposed through every media outlet locally.
I feel burdened for United Way, these volunteers and for the recipient being reported on in this article.
Fort Wayne, Keep Volunteering and offering your best to help those in need.
It’s OK to make mistakes if you’re willing to work to correct them. It’s OK not to have all the answers or know how to do everything as long as you offer your best with a willing heart to learn.
Love Wins
