Over the years many people have tried to capture what makes Kewaunee County such an amazing place to live, work and raise a family. There have been actual studies and surveys which have sought out to quantify the contributing factors to the great quality of life that we so often times take for granted.
While there are numerous contributing factors to this question, without a doubt, one of the key factors is the seemingly unlimited capacity of generosity and giving. This element of giving can be found in everything from fundraisers for local programs to massive turnouts at events such as our County Fair and Breakfast on Farm. It can also be found in the untold number of random acts of kindness that occur without recognition or awareness each and every day right here in our community.
The value of such qualities is not exclusive to Kewaunee County, in fact the impact and value of giving of one’s self is so important that there is actually a national awareness for it. April 16th through the 22nd is set aside to recognize National Volunteer Week. On that note, The Kewaunee County Volunteer Expo will be held on April 18th at East Shore Industries in Algoma from 1:00PM to 4:00PM. This event is being coordinated by the Kewaunee County Violence Intervention Project
It is easy to understand the value of volunteerism on the many projects, initiatives and institutions that benefit, but what is not so apparent and is many times overlooked is the value and impact of volunteerism for those who are doing the volunteering.
There are actual scientific studies that have looked at the relationship between positive mental health and human connection. We know that as human beings, we thrive when engaged in deep meaningful relationships. This is one of the reasons we see such a deficit in our current state of mental health, as you can not establish nor sustain meaningful relationships exclusively through social media. There must be at some point a physical human interaction, to experience the mental and physiological benefits. To take it one step further, we create a stronger sense of purpose and meaning in these relationships when they are connected to giving of one’s self.
This is where volunteerism comes into play. The history of our great country can be directly tied to volunteerism. The very existence of our nation was secured by men and women who gave of themselves and their resources, in some cases to the detriment of their personal safety. Even in our current day and age, the men and women who stand to protect freedom do so as volunteers.
The basic fabric of our communities is woven through the many volunteers and the amazing organizations that rely on them for the valuable work that they do in supporting our communities. We can track the wellbeing of our communities and its members by the level of volunteerism within that same community. As the level of volunteerism increases, the quality of that community improves, and in contrast as that level decreases so too, does the quality of life in that community. Another misconception that has evolved in recent years is that government and its programs can some how supplement or replace the need for volunteers and the organizations they support. This couldn’t be further from reality. Also, the mere act of writing a check does not provide the same personal level of fulfillment, for it is the human connection that both the giver and the receiver realize the greatest impact. There is a quote from Mother Teresa that states “Love is not patronizing, and charity isn’t about pity, it is about love. Charity and Love are the same. With Charity you give love, so don’t just give money but reach out your hand instead.”
If you ever find that you are in a place of sorrow or experiencing a lack of fulfillment, try volunteering for something. Even in its simplest form, volunteering brings with it some pretty profound impacts for both you and the purpose for which you are giving of yourself.
