It seems the CERT members had a fund raiser last week and unfortunately the email about it was missed. So this post is a reminder that sometimes we need to take a step back and look around and do something nice. CERT (Community Emergency Response Teem) is a group of volunteers (help me out here Diane) Well if you missed the fund raiser last week, you can still send a donation to CERT. They are funded very little by Town of Templeton due to there not being any money to fund them.
So this got me thinking, maybe we all should start paying it forward. There is a fund raiser today at the ORSC (along with their annual bake) for the Kasper family. Mark has been fighting cancer. I heard that sometime soon there will also be a fundraiser for the Paine family. Marty has also been fighting cancer. You can always put some money in an envelope and drop it at the Highway Barn, you see both guys are town employees and anyone who has ever gone through this in their family knows the financial toll it can take.
Did you see the paper that came with your last tax bill about making a voluntary donation to the Narragansett Scholarship Fund. We have all heard John Brooks get up at town meeting and speak on this. And every year the scholarship fund only gets very little money from the town budget. So John remembered that years ago we had accepted a MGL that that town could ask for donations to the scholarship fund with the tax bills. (Don't worry if you missed the last one, you'll get another chance with your next tax bill!) and no the money does not go to the school, it goes all as scholarships directly to graduating seniors and past graduates attending college. Just ask John!
So maybe you don't have money to donate. How about donating blood. Kamaloht (East Templeton) is having a Red Cross Blood Drive on Thursday, September 12th. Call 1-800-RED CROSS to make an appointment. Thanks Tom!
Can't give blood, how about a bag of groceries to the food pantry ( and please please make sure it is not out dated). Or some dog/cat food to the local animal shelter.
The Senior Center is having a yard sale next month, got anything in your attic you can donate? Watch the blog for that posting. And while your cleaning out the attic or basement, the animal shelters can usually use towels and blankets. The weather will be turning colder soon, as you dig out out your winter jackets and decide you want a new one, take the old one to the Veterans outreach in Gardner, or the Salvation Army.
How about donating your time? I know one guy in town who all summer pushed his lawnmower down the street to keep the lawn mowed at an empty house, to help his neighborhood.
Do you know a family going though a tough time? Bring them a casserole or a plate of brownies,.
It doesn't take much. Random acts of kindness, paying it forward.
And thank you to all of Templeton's volunteers.
thank you.... it is very refreshing to see a positive and non-political comment. paying it forward always warms my heart and also the person who I pay it forward too. I have done it at a D&D and it really does make you feel good. I will be donating blood at the blood drive. The Kasper and Paine family have been life long residents of Templeton for generations. I will be supporting these two families at the fundraisers.
ReplyDeleteI just read on facebook a local family is trying to raise funds from people so they don't lose their homes, this family is a hardworking family and the mortgage company is unwilling to work with them (this seems to happen to a lot people who try to modify their loans). I plan on donating to this family... they have lived in Templeton for many years, have worked their entire life and because of the economy had to close the doors of their business here in templeton and now are working for barely minimum wages. even if I donate just $5.00 or $100, it will help this family and it will make my heart warmer.
I really believe that people are willing to help their neighbors out in time of need and the community needs to support one another.
correction: lose their home (not homes) they do not own more than one home.
DeleteThank you Pauly for posting this and I understand about changing the email. CERT is all volunteer except for Rich Curtis and possibly a couple of others. We are trained to help do rehab for the firefighters while they fight a large fire which means we are sure to take blood pressure and heart rate, give water and access their overall health to ensure they are safe before they go back into the fighting the fire. We are prepared and trained in CPR and other life saving skills and we are trained to open a shelter like we have done in the winter storms and hurricane. Some of us have training in search and rescue and HAM radio operation. We are also trained for disaster if something catastrophic may occur here or in surrounding town. And for the last couple of years we helped many occasions with parking and traffic with the police dept.
ReplyDeleteWe are always looking for more volunteers and we meet once a month, I can get you the dates, and you can give as much or as little time as is good for you. It's family first and then the CERT.
Volunteering is a wonderful way to give back to our town and it's citizens that need us. It also is a great way to get to know your neighbors as I can attest to. All the above ideas are a start to helping one another come together as a community and to continue the ideals of paying it forward.
Thank you again Pauly for posting this.
The 2 main reasons for a community to exist is to celebrate together in good times and to support one another in bad times. Templeton could very easily be a place where a tornado strikes and levels half of the town just like it did in Monson. If this ever happened here, it wouldn't matter who's political "side" you were on. It wouldn't matter who you voted for in town elections. It wouldn't matter who said what or who got the last word in. All that matters in a time of need is who is willing to lend a hand, work together side by side and help. I, too, am glad that this was posted. It does bring the conversation back to who we are deep down inside and what motivates our actions. There are many, many people and organizations that need our support right now. Lets focus on rebuilding this community back up. And if it takes helping one family or organization at a time, then that's what we'll have to do. Its also going to take setting your ego aside and listening to those that don't share the same opinion. Its going to take more of an ability for us to say "you are right, I was was mistaken", "I'm sorry", and "thank you". Don't be so quick to assume a defensive stance. Our fight shouldn't be amongst each other. Our fight should be standing together to make informed decisions and improve the overall quality of life in our community.
ReplyDeleteMy step granddaughter fell a couple of years ago, and had a very bad head injury. It was touch and go for a couple of weeks, until they knew if she was going to make it or not. Olivia spent thirty two days in a Boston hospital, before going to rehab. Insurance does not cover the cost of gas, food, parking and the numerous things you need at a time like this. My step daughter, Laura was fortunate that the people where she worked, (the IRS) donated their sick time, and vacation time to help out. Laura stayed at the hospital, 24/7, sometimes sleeping in a room as big as a closet, until she knew her youngest was somewhat stable, but all and all, she never really left. We did a fund raiser, and I asked a few of the local companies, here in Templeton to help, and they did. Not everyone can afford to give a lot, but if we all give a little it will add up. The fact that people care, and are willing to support you, lessons the burden a little bit. Doing a fund raiser for Tuna and his family gave me a real sense of accomplishment, and a new appreciation of the people who helped. Templetonian, thank you for your blogs. Not only are they full of good information, they are positive. Bev.
DeleteGlad all turned out well for your family Bev. Giving is a way of life in my household. Your posts are good too Bev.
DeleteAmen.
ReplyDeleteWow what an eye opener. I really never found any other people that do random acts of kindness. Could be that we do need recognition or to be put in the spotlight. These are some of the good things being done by our neighbors and about this town. We need more focus on these things that really do matter.
DeleteShould read that we do not need recognition. I have had many problems with the computer lately. What I type is often not what I get back. Darn used recycled equipment.
DeleteWow jim, you scared me for a minute! By the way, I do appreciate your blogs. It is good to hear from a new person. I get it about the computer, I keep getting double blogs, and some times you can't erase one. Maybe yours was used by someone from Echo Hill in the past! Can a computer be haunted?, hee, hee. Bev.
DeleteThanks Bev. I can't throw anything away that has some use left in it. As I have had several rough months (lately like everyone else I'm sure) I can't just go get a new one. I have replaced the keyboard and it is still there. I never did blog, don't tweet and my phone rings. I am not old fashion. I have been involved in the computer industry for over 35 years. I know how things work behind the scenes. Others that started about the same time are also like me. We live in a time where our every action is traceable. On our cell phones, that picture that was just posted on your face book may have the GPS position attached. Those emails you get or the ads you see on the sides of the web page are the result of your web searches. Wow look at that sale I was just looking for one of those. Use Gmail? Read the agreement you most likely just checked when you set up your account. You gave them permission to read all your mail. They use that info to target adds to you. Everything is for sale and you can buy many lists. Nothing is free. If I own the network and you use it I can pretty much have unlimited information about the users and will know what they like and dislike. Like sports? hey look you just won red sox tickets. Don't worry someone will be over to clean out your house while you are at the game. Posted a picture of that big new entertainment center? Someone is monitoring your tweets and has checked Google Earth to find the best place to approach from. Tweet your friends to confirm evening plans to see that new play in Boston. People know about how long you will be gone for. They also employ mobile technology If you cancel plans they have others places they can go.
DeleteI could write a book on the subject. Don't panic their are good guys out there as well. We work with federal, state and local agencies to try to stay one step behind these type of people. The criminal element has embraced the technology as well. They even give prisoners internet access. Use common sense no one gets something for nothing. If it sounds too good to be true, it is, trust your instincts. Use common sense. Keep your computer updated (operating system, anti virus and anti spyware). Or you can use a virtual computer from a system in the former Soviet Union. after you traverse networks in North and South America. Be sure to use NAT at least twice. Erase the syslogs on the network routers when you exit (can you believe some people never change the default userid or password.) and clone your MAC address. Use a couple of site to site VPN's of course so you can't be easily traced. That and common sense should make you pretty safe. BTW this is not exactly how to do it. and I know you have no idea of what I just wrote. LOL like TFLOT is right now or maybe she is not.
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ReplyDeleteImproving the lives of others is the best way to improve ones own life. I believe Templetonian made a very good point with the 'Two Main Reasons For A Community To Exist" , and of course Pauly, who started the whole topic. In tough economic & social times like this, it's important to remember & encourage(despite our individual political beliefs) our sense of community.
ReplyDeleteIt would be excellent if there was a local "directory" for community events of all types (such as the things mentioned here). Perhaps there is, and i'm just in the dark?
It would be good to have a community calendar to list events that will take place so people are aware of them. Reading about a event after the fact, does not do much good. I would have gone to the Snow Bound Club this past weekend, if I had known about it, the same for the CERT activity. Many times a news paper will want a group to advertise a activity. The problem with that is, the cost takes a big chunk from what you bring in, it sometimes does not make sense. The CERT e-mail was missed, but that happens. Taking care of this blog is a lot of work. I know if you send a e-mail to Sue she will try to get things on the blog. Is that a answer to Ryan's question, no not really. Anyone got any other ideas? I think the town web site is for town committees not what Ryan was looking for, but I may be wrong. Bev.
DeleteIt would be good to have a community calendar to list events that will take place so people are aware of them. Reading about a event after the fact, does not do much good. I would have gone to the Snow Bound Club this past weekend, if I had known about it, the same for the CERT activity. Many times a news paper will want a group to advertise a activity. The problem with that is, the cost takes a big chunk from what you bring in, it sometimes does not make sense. The CERT e-mail was missed, but that happens. Taking care of this blog is a lot of work. I know if you send a e-mail to Sue she will try to get things on the blog. Is that a answer to Ryan's question, no not really. Anyone got any other ideas? I think the town web site is for town committees not what Ryan was looking for, but I may be wrong. Bev.
Delete