Behind the Curtain: A Small Insight Into the Workings of an NGO
NGOs, or non-governmental organizations, are present in our
every day life. Settlements in third world countries are given water by
organizations like Village Water, and senior citizens and the less fortunate
are given hot meals and a place to socialize by NGOs like Meals on Wheels.
Too often we ignore the people behind these organizations,
and it seems like many people make blanket assumptions that the products of
these NGOs "just happen," without understanding of the work that goes
into making each and every cog in the machine of the NGO turn. I don't fault
those people for that viewpoint, as I can be one of those people on any given
day that I am fortunate enough to be able to have food or shelter of my own.
Today I was given the opportunity to see a glimpse into the
every day things that occur at Meals on Wheels locations, from the brains of
the operation at a resource center to the volunteers working incessantly at
their food centers.
These people, the volunteers taking time out of their day to
provide an integral service to the community, are just like you and I. I saw
people from all walks of life of varying age and ethnicity hard at work in the
Meals on Wheels kitchens of Beaverton and Gresham. Some volunteer to give back
to the organization that provides them with food and happiness, while some
volunteer solely out of the goodness of their heart.
Seeing the swath of individuals working at the various Meals
on Wheels locations that I visited today made me think back to when I
volunteered at similar organizations as a child, and how great it felt to be
able to give back to the community that had helped my family in times of
trouble.
When you see a Meals on Wheels truck driving down the
street, or a van from the American Red Cross pulling up to a school, remember
that these operations aren't automatic. There are hardworking, kind-hearted
people working every day to make sure that our parents and grandparents have
hot meals, and that the patients in our hospitals have proper care.
However, what may be the most important, is to know that
even if we aren't the people out on the front lines delivering food or
providing services, we still matter and we can still help those in need.
Information:
https://www.mealsonwheelspeople.org
Comments
Post a Comment