There are two definitions of this term on theFreeDictionary.com:
1. Services volunteered by individuals or an organization to benefit a community or its institutions.
2. Similar work performed by law offenders to serve a sentence in lieu of or in addition to jail time.
Hopefully I'll be doing the description in the first definition rather than the second!
But more specifically, I plan to use a very broad definition of the term to include everything from helping out in some way in my neighborhood or picking up trash at a local park or stream to volunteering in my children's schools to volunteering for local, national or even international organizations. After all, each of those constitutes a part of my community, and all have needs for volunteers to help. Please send your ideas for projects, as I'm open to almost anything!
Helping out family members, on the other hand, will not count. As important as they are in my "community," if we moms counted as "service" all that we do for our spouses or kids we'd be racking up dozens of service projects each day, right?
Hopefully I'll be doing the description in the first definition rather than the second!
But more specifically, I plan to use a very broad definition of the term to include everything from helping out in some way in my neighborhood or picking up trash at a local park or stream to volunteering in my children's schools to volunteering for local, national or even international organizations. After all, each of those constitutes a part of my community, and all have needs for volunteers to help. Please send your ideas for projects, as I'm open to almost anything!
Helping out family members, on the other hand, will not count. As important as they are in my "community," if we moms counted as "service" all that we do for our spouses or kids we'd be racking up dozens of service projects each day, right?
So wish me luck -- tomorrow is the big kickoff day! I'll let you know how it goes.....
I think this commitment you're making is tremendous and wonderful. I'm very proud to know you and will continue to be as I watch your progress through the year. A couple of questions occurred to me.
ReplyDeleteWill you accept as a day's service:
- doing research on community service to find new projects or ideas?
- writing a check to a nonprofit?
There will be some days you won't be able to leave home. Will you allow yourself make-up days should you become ill?
Very best luck!
Such good questions! I don't think writing a check should count,since the idea is to volunteer and offer time in some way, even if that's cleaning my house and bringing stuff to an organization that serves needy people.
ReplyDeleteAs for doing research, I'm less sure about my response - what do you think?