Hard times nonetheless evoke volunteer spirit
Hard to believe it was more than a year ago when we were deep in the throes of writing stories about how the lousy economy was causing this hardship and that woe.
The specific story I'm recalling detailed how charitable and not-for-profit agencies were hurting for volunteers. I remember well our conversation with a sweet, 77-year-old woman who volunteered regularly at a shop that collects donated furniture and household items; she was scaling back her volunteerism (which included a 50-mile round trip from Palos Heights to Downers Grove) as gas prices were nearing $4 a gallon.
Today, you'd think you might hear more of the same, as news of unemployment, stalled wages, minimal retail spending and the like doesn't exactly inspire hope that the recession's end is just around the corner.
Ah, but you might be surprised. Volunteerism, at least in DuPage County, appears to be on the upswing, says Kathy Blair, who runs Giving DuPage, a nonprofit arm of the county that coordinates volunteer efforts among myriad groups.
The news is perhaps a bit bittersweet. Some people's job searches have run their course, and they're trying something different. No one, it seems, wants to just sit around. And, in addition to doing some good, one can learn a new skill that may lead to a different tack to re-enter the job market.
I mention all this because the granddaddy of volunteer opportunities is at hand.
As it has done every year since the anniversary of Sept. 11, Giving DuPage commemorates the tragic day with its Day of Volunteerism, an effort that I'm glad to say the Daily Herald has sponsored since its inception. The group's efforts dovetail nicely with a national declaration that Sept. 11 this year be marked as a day of remembrance and service.
Two years ago, 2,203 people were involved in 71 projects countywide. Last year, the number dropped to 789 when the area was pelted by severe rains and floods, putting a real damper on the volunteer spirit.
On Sept. 11 and 12, volunteers can choose from a vast array of community projects, ranging from, uh, tidying up at the ADOPT pet shelter in Naperville to helping run a DuPage PADS walk/run to baking for hospice patients.
It's heartening that people down on their luck can find the time to volunteer. Perhaps it's time for a little self-reflection among those of us blessed to be working. You can check out the projects at www.givingdupage.org.
More softball news:
After I wrote last week about the Titans, the team of 40-and-over codgers who won the city championship against the B, C and Recreation divisions of the Naperville Park District's softball program, I got a call from Tom Wehrli.
Wehrli is the guy behind the huge dog Frisbee tournament that occurs about this time every year. But he wanted me to know that he's opened discussions with the park district for a local softball hall of fame.
A softball player since the early 1970s, Wehrli says he has enough team trophies and the like to start the ball rolling. He began his career as a 16-inch player, which was the only game in town at the time. But he later switched to the 12-inch softball league, which was formed in 1974, I believe. The Wehrli family had enough players to support an entire roster and named themselves Wehrli's Freaks, reflecting perhaps their hair length and lifestyle. But when the time comes for everyone to start dusting off their softball memorabilia, we'll be sure to let you know.
jdavis@dailyherald.com