BE A DO-GOODER THIS YEAR

Editorial | December 19th, 2023

Our opinion: Make your mark and consider volunteering.

By Sabrina Hornung

Last September, the Fargo Forum reported that the Kilbourne Group, along with Fargo’s finest elected officials, met with the Salvation Army behind closed doors to propose they leave their downtown home on Roberts Street. They have called that space home since 1904.

According to that article, Mayor Mahoney says there are no solid plans to move the facility but they have shopped around for a potential new location.

If that isn’t a page straight out of a Dickens novel, I don’t know what is. But the silence is deafening, especially as homelessness is on the rise in Fargo.

One could only hope that the Kilbourne group and the select group of elected officials would be visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future, but there’s no guarantee.

Do you think even among ghosts it's said, “No one wants to haunt anymore?”

God bless us every one.

They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions, at least it will be a smoother ride for those whose intentions are, well, on the opposite end of good. It takes a village, folks, but at least they won’t have to worry about having a winter survival kit in their trunk.

But we can’t be all doom and gloom this holiday season, there are still do-gooders out there and there are still ways that we can make a small bit of difference in our communities.

This past month, our staff, especially Jo and Alicia, put in a lot of time reaching out to various non-profits throughout the region. Asking questions such as what can we do to help and how can we spread the word.

Are there items your organization could use? I might have some spare office supplies that are doing nothing more than taking up space in the back of my closet…

I might not be able to contribute money but I have some time and talent that can be used to help. How can I contribute my time toward making a difference for this organization?

I’m a firm believer in volunteering. If you have nothing to offer but a little bit of time and a wee bit of talent you can still contribute. In fact we thrive because of our volunteers and we are ever grateful for their time and talents.

Money always helps but so do able hands, able bodies, and warm smiles. Volunteering is a good way to rally the troops. Grab a friend or three, grab your mom, your pops, and the kids. This is an opportunity to spend quality time with your loved ones. Even if you’re new in town, you might even meet some really cool like-minded folks in the process.

The best part being that these contributions don’t have a shelf life. You can help at any time of the year, depending on the organization. These contributions don’t take up space and can be chalked up as experience.

In a world where we’re exposed to a 24-hour news cycle and a constant stream of negativity and nonsense, this is the perfect time to unplug and connect on an ultra real level and do a little bit of good in the process.

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