COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Have you been involved in your community lately? Have you participated in a civic group, attended a Community Board meeting, volunteered to help beautify your neighborhood, assisted an elderly neighbor bring in his/her trash cans? Are you interested in adding to your contact list, making new friends, getting out of the house and breathing some fresh air, feeling good about yourself or feeling good about helping others?

Awhile ago, I blogged about “The Importance of Volunteering”. (See March 10^th Blog). It is a key part of my life; I feel great reaching goals that will benefit myself but more importantly other people and organizations.

Every day in the local newspapers or on-line, you can discover groups that are seeking new members to add to their rosters. Whether it be the Grandmothers Club, the Rotaries, Chamber of Commerce, Hospital Auxiliaries, The Toastmasters, the Bridge Cub, PTA’s, Church Groups, this is your chance to discover something new. Am I being overly simplistic? Yes! As Uncle Sam’s motto recruiting enlistees to the Army is “WE WANT YOU!”, there is an organization nearby that wants you, too.

I had a neighbor who walked to the corner stores maybe two or three times a day with a small plastic bag in his hand. I asked him why he did that. He said he could not stand to see people toss discarded lottery tickets and such on the streets; as he noticed the trash, he would put it in the plastic bag and discard at his house.

Another time, I noticed after a Sanitation Dept. pick up, trash cans were left in the road and in driveways. Another neighbor brought the cans to the sidewalk and away from the driveway. I was in awe of these two neighbors and am grateful that there are still people who care.

On Saturday, May 17, there are two events that I want to mention.

In New Brighton, at Jones Woods Park, there will be a planting of new forest trees sponsored by the Million TreesNYC. This is the first step to a healthy new forest and park. We will meet at 9:00 a.m. across from Goodhue Park on Lafayette Ave. and Brighton Ave.

Another event on Saturday will be sponsored by the Citizens Committee for NYC and hosted together with the New Brighton Coalition for Concerned Citizens. We will meet at 11:00 a.m. at the corner of Benziger Ave.and Jersey St. for a "LOVE MY BLOCK" cleanup and planting. All supplies (gloves, bags, etc.) will be provided. Also, you don't have to be from New Brighton to participate.

What community events have you been involved with? If you would like to participate in either of these events, please do. We would appreciate the extra hands. If you would like to suggest other organizations or events, please share with me and my readers at joan.coogan@gmail.com or call me at 646-258-9696. Thanks for reading.

Posted by Joan Coogan on May 14th, 2014

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