Acting Like Champions as We Celebrate Labor Day

In celebration of the Labor Day weekend, I am providing some insight for fellow Virginians to continue our volunteer efforts where we can have direct impact on supporting the local community living in need. Volunteering locally is a pleasing and rewarding way to learn new skills and enjoy meeting innovative people and organizations. It is also a great opportunity for us to use our knowledge, experience, and abilities to enhance nonprofits, school programs, and civic organizations.

The ranks of America’s poor have climbed to levels unseen in recent memory amid a weak economy and fraying government safety net. Americans are now becoming accustomed to the new norm of living hand to mouth. Family income has not significantly changed lately. Recent economic growth has not really reached working class Americans. Food insecurity rates differ across the nation due to population characteristics and state economic conditions. According to the most recent estimates from Feeding America there are 704,270 food insecure Virginians. That is a food insecurity rate of almost 8%.

The number of individuals grappling with food insecurity in the United States has surged from 34 million in 2021 to a staggering 44 million in 2022, according to the latest update from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Not all households in the United States can put food on the table throughout the year comfortably. These households are often considered food insecure. Food insecurity is the lack of access to enough food for an active, healthy life. Households can experience food insecurity temporarily or for long periods. Regardless of the duration, food insecurity leads to adverse consequences for those families impacted.

The Lower Shenandoah Valley is an affluent community and many of us have privileged lives. Historically the Valley has a strong and proud tradition of volunteerism and we are driven by a common desire to improve the communities where we live and work by forming lasting volunteer partnerships with local organizations. Through a commitment to service excellence, we touch the lives of many people and promote hope and goodwill. We are involved in many community outreach projects that directly support our neighborhoods. These initiatives focus on civic opportunities, education, environment, safety and security and people living in need. We are tutors, mentors, classroom speakers, fund-raisers, board members, and food drive organizers, among many other roles.

We must be the ones to volunteer our time and resources. We can act as champions in our respective communities, using our own job-related skills (i.e. program management, business development, sales and services, software, and system engineering) to work with organizations that interweave community obligations with the desire to uplift and support those living in need.

The pressure of a growing population with tremendous cultural diversity challenges our community leaders. We are a kind, generous, loyal, and noble people. Our government infrastructure, churches, civic organizations, and corporations need to work in unison to make certain that there is funding and programs in place to assure that no children go without attending school, receiving regular meals, or wearing proper clothing and shoes. Let no family, regardless of any situation, go without shelter and be humbled beyond repair. In this way there is always a focus on achieving the common good for the entire community.