Arlington Cares!

By Lisa Fikes

Director of Volunteer Arlington

When saying goodbye each morning, my 6 year old daughter and I have gotten in the habit of making the shape of a heart with both of our hands. It is an outward sign of an inward feeling. We care for each other. We love each other.  And, even though we might not be seeing each other for a short time, this action reminds us of what we value - each
other and our family. And, it reminds us throughout the day of that love.

The act of volunteering reminds me of a similar truth. Serving others is an outward sign of an inwardly held value. We care. We might care about ending hunger, about seniors, or about a number of various causes or needs.

The outward signs vary from minute to minute. For some, it is serving on a Task Force that is working towards finding more affordable housing. For others, they volunteer to collect food for those who are having a hard time making ends meet that month. For others, it could be as simple as offering a smile to a colleague who needed it. All are acts of kindness which reflect the values of the messenger - outward signs of inward values.

At Volunteer Arlington, our hope is to connect that spirit of "care" with the volunteer opportunities that are available in our local area.

Our monthly newsletter, "Arlington Cares" has two goals:

1. To celebrate the spirit of volunteerism
2. To serve as a reminder of the many ways Arlingtonians can "care" through their volunteer work

We hope you will enjoy it and help us spread the word! 

To sign up for our newsletter or browse volunteer opportunities, visit volunteerarlington.org.