Today our nation celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr Day. The local news will cover marches, service projects, remembrance services and somewhere someone will play sounds bites of the “I have a dream” speech.
I have to admit that there is a line from the speech that I love and always get excited about:
Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.
I live at the foot of Lookout Mountain and I feel honored that our area was included in some of the most famous words ever written by an American.
Service to your fellow man was a theme throughout Dr. King’s words. Chattanoogans have many opportunities to serve one another. Take some time someday soon to give back to your community in honor of a man who paved the way for a better life for us all.
Help the widows.
Serve at the community kitchen.
Donate time to Habitat for Humanity.
Even give life by donating blood.
Teach someone to read.
If you have any other suggestions, then please feel free to leave them in the comments section.
~Every evening, when I leave work and head toward the parking garage I pass by a security gaurd. And every evening that I pass that security gaurd I am greeted with a big smile and a countdown to Saturday.
“One down, just four more to go!”
“You made it through two! Stay warm going home!”
“Hump day! Almost there.”
“Yeah! One more day, just one more day, you can do it!”
It’s not just me he is talking to, it is all the folks done with their day and just ready to get on with their non-work lives. And his cheering for us makes me eager to see him the next day.
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Today’s Chattanooga Times Free Press had an interesting article about the area’s Salvation Army’s effort in this season’s kettle campaign. What struck me is that the Salvation Army now allows you to donate your kettle contributions online.
“People are getting busier. Fewer people are able to volunteer their time,” said Kimberly George, the organization’s community relations director. “But deep down we still want to do good. This gives people opportunity to give and still feel like they are contributing.”
The online kettle campaign, aimed at individuals, businesses and groups, began in Chattanooga this month.
“You have to go to the Web site, but once you go to it you can give,” Mrs. George said. “It’s very simple. You just put in your name, address and your group’s name and then e-mail your friends about it, and of course, it’s a secure site.”
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Saturdays usually end up to be errand days for me and today’s errands included a stop at Chattanooga’s recycling center and the drop off box for donations to the American Thirft store.
We usually do the curbside recycling, but since glass was banned from the curb, we collect it for months until we can’t stand it any more. Then we gather it all and head over to Warner Park’s recycling center. It is really easy to get there and every time I am always offered a ton of help. I love that it is clean and organized. And the hours for Saturday (8 am to 5pm) are great for someone like me who doesn’t have a lot of time.
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