Better to Give than Receive
I stumbled upon the career of volunteer management the way most of us stumble upon our careers: I needed a job. I’m now the director of volunteer services at the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC). I support the mission of helping local families by alleviating food insecurity, but that’s not the best part of my job. Day in and day out, I help others to give of themselves in a way that is meaningful to them. I’m not a volunteer at AFAC, but I’m buoyed by those who are.
My role on the Outreach Committee is an extension of that. How do we transform into our best selves the way God know we are capable? When I see church members come out in droves for a food packing event, step up to help services happen during a pandemic, or show vulnerability and lead a difficult conversation on racial reconciliation, we are working towards that common purpose.
The core focus of our committee is providing comfort to our neighbors who do not have adequate food or shelter. An offshoot of this on the international level will be our work with our newly relaunched refugee resettlement program.
As we start a new year, after a very strange one, I encourage all of you to pray and discern what gifts you might have (and you all have some) and where that can take you. It should not feel like an obligation. It truly is better to give than to receive, especially in a world that can sometimes be very self-focused. We can’t do everything, but we can all do something. Please contact me via Realm or the church office if you find yourself called to be Christ’s hands and feet in this hurting world.
Danielle Rampton
Chair, Outreach Committee