“ONE PERSON CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND EVERYONE SHOULD TRY"

I take great delight in slow lunches with good friends. This past Friday Joe and I met at Birchtree; the food was delicious, the conversation rich. We talked of important subjects: Family, travels, careers. We touched on the political climate of our community, our country and our world. Mid-bite, Joe paused and looked me in the eye.

“It seems to me that we are asking ourselves the wrong question,” Joe said. “Too many of us seem to be asking, 'What do I get? What do we deserve?' Instead, we should be asking, 'What do we owe to each other?'"

I have been reflecting on that simple question for days. I believe that it is a perfect description of community. When we ask ourselves what we owe each other, we start building community.

More than 105 years ago, a small group of businesspeople and leaders came together and formed what is now known as the United Way of Central Massachusetts. The object was to "formulate a program of social services to meet the needs of community and to promote cooperation and coordination among existing agencies and partners." Simply, we have been working at building community our entire existence.

In my short 60-plus years, in my residences and travels around the world and around our country, I have never felt as great the sense of division and divisiveness as right now. Not so long ago we could disagree with each other with respect. Today, it seems that anger and hate are the operating standard of political discourse.

Yet, I see bright spots. I see beautiful bright spots that start with one person and then radiate out to include many.

In March the call came to us at United Way. Could we, would we, assist in the recruitment of community readers for one of our Worcester elementary schools? On March 7 more than 40 people — the WPI basketball team, nonprofit partners, Worcester Bravehearts personnel, United Way staff — we all converged at the school. Teams of two or three were assigned to each classroom. We did not teach literacy; we did share our love of reading with hundreds of students. Much as I hope the students were impacted; I know that each community reader was inspired and wishes to volunteer again.

In April, Working for Worcester held its annual Build Day. A small leadership team worked for eight months planning and preparing for this giant one-day event. More than 1,000 people volunteered to build playgrounds and recreational spaces, construct Buddy Benches, create raised garden beds and book nooks and STEAM discovery centers. Every Worcester-based institution of higher education had students who participated — students who gave four or five, or eight or 10 hours of their time and muscle — all to benefit Worcester’s children and families.

Saturday, May 10 was a rainy day. It was also the annual Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. All of Worcester’s U.S. Postal Service employees participated. They were joined by volunteers from the AFL-CIO, retirees, elected officials and United Way employees. Best of all — thousands of homes and households participated. More than 200,000 pounds of nutritious, shelf-ready food was collected and distributed to local food pantries and our Food Bank.

The Women’s Initiative has created a financial literacy program entitled “Dollar $cholars.” This program is offered through schools and partner agencies to adolescent girls with the goal of introducing strong financial management and financial independence to all participants. The students are instructed and inspired by amazing mentors, volunteers from local financial institutions, area colleges, medical facilities, agency partners, local manufacturing and hundreds of businesses. This academic year more than 750 students participated.

Bright spots. Big bright spots. All because one person, then another, and another, asked themselves the question: “What do we owe to each other?”

This Wednesday, June 18, our United Way will host our 105th annual community celebration. We will celebrate amazing people and programs, fantastic businesses and efforts. Much as we wish to celebrate these bright spots, we hope to hold them up as the inspiration we all need.

We believe that each person — you — can be a bright spot. There is a most beautiful quote often attributed to John F. Kennedy: “One person can make a difference and everyone should try.”

By: Tim Garvin, CEO & President UWCM