Day 14 -- Preparing a newsletter mailing at NAMI

"The true meaning of life is to plant trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit."
---Nelson Henderson

Today I helped prepare newsletters for a big mailing at a local office of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. It was interesting and in a way exciting to head to this office where I'd never been, like a total clean slate. I didn't know what to expect.

What I found were a group of volunteers who ranged in age from about 20 to 70 and some very friendly staffpeople. We sat at a big table and each took a stack of the monthly newsletters to seal with a sticker. The task was pretty menial, so we could talk while doing it about a wide range of general topics-- different recycling policies, cellphone carriers, where we live, etc... Working from home I don't get to work directly with people of different ages and backgrounds on a daily basis, so these sorts of situations are a treat.

I've been fortunate not to have to seek out NAMI's services, but hope to help out there again. There is something nice about volunteering at a place you don't directly benefit from.