I was doing a bit of spring-cleaning, when I came across one of my favorite children’s books, a story called “Stone Soup” from author Ann McGovern. It’s a tale of how a small, poor village came together to create something unexpected and wonderful. The story does include an actual stone and a bit of trickery but offers a much bigger lesson. At the start, the villagers had very little in each of their cupboards. One person had a few onions, one person had only a single turnip, some had even less. But one by one, they came together and offered what they could to the boiling pot of water. In the end, the whole village ate a soup, “fit for a king,” which they never would have if they had just been eating on their own.
Pride Month is rolling along after a very challenging year – with fabulous events, parties, speaking engagements and more. Our June celebration peaks on the last Sunday of the month with this year’s Pride Festival in NYC. What most folks watching on TV don’t realize, this is a yearlong effort put together mainly by volunteers. Some have been working the event for decades, while others came out this year for the very first time to help. It’s really a grand achievement whether you support the LGBTQ+ community or not.
As a young adult, I loved going out to the bars and clubs and the occasional Sunday afternoon tea dance. But it wasn’t until I found my love of volunteering that I truly discovered how amazing and diverse our LGBTQ+ community is. One of the first things I tried was “working the phones” in a call center to raise money for legal fees for people who had no other resources. I didn’t have much experience but was eager, so it was a good fit. I later moved on to working on fundraising events, helping those living with HIV and AIDS. I met people from all walks of life and saw the very best of each of them. I was constantly inspired. Some volunteers came from professional backgrounds, offering great management and insight, while others I’ve worked with were your everyday barista, waiter, local parent or teacher – each bringing something unique and important to the effort. After each event, I felt like I had grown from the experience, thanks to the people I talked to and worked alongside. They say volunteering is selfless, but no one ever talks about how awesome you feel after an event. It’s almost addictive. Pride happens in big ways and small.
This past year has been an incredible challenge to everyone, with most people focused on themselves and their families out of necessity. But something remarkable happened in spite of it all, as charitable giving in the United States actually hit a record high of $471B in 2020.* Yes, that’s B for billion. That’s no small achievement by any means, as giving actually rose above the year before. Those dollars came from corporations, small businesses, community groups, and most important, from individuals everywhere. But what we missed out on this past year was the ability to come together face to face, shoulder to shoulder and support our communities in person. Working with each other . . . learning from each other.
So, as we begin to wrap up another Pride Month, grab the preverbal turnip from your cupboard and get out there, as you might just end up being part of something unexpected. After all, working alongside someone who walks, talks or looks different from you will give you something no amount of donations can bring, and that’s the sense of being part of something great.
Happy Pride, Everyone!
Please visit VolunteerMatch.org to find great organizations in your area looking for volunteer help.
*According to the Giving USA report released Tuesday, June 15, 2021, on the sources and uses of charitable giving in the United States in 2020.
