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Dear Readers,
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s a writer it seems difficult to come up with an original quote or statement that sums up various aspects of the human condition. It appears that nearly every scenario and emotion has been previously described by someone else in history… an apostle, a poet, a
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songwriter or perhaps a playwright or screenwriter. Indeed when we interview our subjects we often ask for his/her favorite quotation. It’s interesting to see which words a person uses to live by… and to discover who first penned the words. As I proofread this April issue, a few famous quotes summed up the common thread of “volunteering.” One comes from Paul the Apostle’s letter to the Corinthians where he writes… “And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love (charity) it profits me nothing.” Our cover story features the Run for the Roses event, which is a major fundraiser for the Voluntary Action Center, an organization dedicated to the concept of people helping people. While the concept of volunteering April 2014
might be camouflaged by big hats, pretty spring dresses and mint juleps, truly what lies at the heart of volunteering is indeed “love.” Love for another. Centuries later than St. Paul’s words, in Victor Hugo’s depiction of the atrocious circumstances of the French Revolution, character Jean Valjean passionately expresses, “To love another person is to see the face of God.” On page 84 in the article,“Heartbreak Turns to Healing,” you will read about Nichole Granville who continues to show her love for other children she does not know following the tragic loss of her own beloved 2-year-old son. And on page 118, you will read about Megan Allman, who voluntarily showed her “charity” by donating a kidney to a fellow high school classmate. In our “Volunteer Spotlight,” (page 18) you’ll also read about Phyllis Watkins, an 82-year-old woman who was recently recognized for 14,400 hours of service at Geisinger CMC. Truly, a community’s strength can be measured by the love (charity) that its members so willingly bestow. We hope you find as much inspiration in this issue as we did.
Fondly,
Paula Paula Rochon Mackarey Publisher
HappeningsMagazinePA.com
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