On Sunday, we'll be watching Extreme Makeover Home Edition, which will showcase a project in Lyme. Len Cadwallader, our Executive Director, writes:

“As a volunteer coordinator, I got to witness the waves of people who signed up to support a project from which they would not benefit personally. I spoke with volunteers who shared heart-wrenching stories of their own circumstances; and without whining or recrimination or envy, joyfully stepped forward to help someone else whose story touched them. One man told me his mother had died of leukemia and that’s why he “needed to be here.” At 2AM, an administrative assistant told me she volunteered for a night shift because if she took time off from work, she’d only fall further behind in her work and might lose her job."

"People’s lives were fulfilled because they could help someone else. And the social fabric of the region is just a little tighter because we had a chance to work elbow to elbow with other residents of this region--folks with whom we don’t often get a chance to interact."

Fortunately, our Valley has many social service agencies, faith-based groups, and service clubs that do important work week in and week out, where volunteer opportunities abound, where hands and heads and hearts are needed. Together, we can build wheelchair ramps, be companions to older adults, help children become better readers, stock food shelves, serve meals, and even build homes. Working together to help our neighbors will always be meaningful.

There will be two community viewings this Sunday in Hanover and Lyme.