Volunteering

Working in a methadone clinic, I am privileged to have access to a wide cross-section of society—all ages, cultures, philosophies, political leanings, levels of awareness, etc., all of them narcotic addicts trying to make some type of change, large or small, in their lives. It has been very humbling to find that most days, I learn more from them than I teach.

Today, one of my little old lady patients brought up her idea (passed on from another little old lady—really, 80 years old) that a lot of America’s problems can be improved by everyone volunteering for four hours per month. Now, doesn’t that seem simple? It certainly won’t make our country, our world, or ourselves worse to volunteer our time to our favorite organization. A donation of four hours per month of our time may make a huge improvement in another person’s life. There are so many worthy organizations that can use our time and talents: our own local churches, Boys and Girls Clubs, the Salvation Army, Red Cross, Meals on Wheels, Habitat for Humanity, the local food bank or housing shelter.

I have 363 patients who can or do use services from all these organizations. And they are all grateful that anyone has taken the time to think of them, even in a small way. Some of them are homeless, sleep outdoors, and literally, run their lives from a shopping cart.