By Randy Bartlett, Wheels Volunteer
I grew up in a small town where everyone knew everyone and was always there to pitch in and help their neighbors. I moved to Groveland in May 2020, and I really looked forward to getting back to that sense of community after having spent most of my adult life in Sacramento.
Unfortunately, because of COVID, and everything closing, I only met my immediate neighbors and a few others. After taking one of my neighbors to a doctor’s appointment, I learned of Southside Community Connection’s Wheels program.
I signed up to help, and it’s been one of the best things I’ve done for myself since being here. My original thought was that it would be a good way to help others, but it’s been such a great experience that I wanted to share it.
There’s no better feeling in life than gratitude and that feeling has increased every time I’ve had the privilege of helping a neighbor to a doctor’s appointment, delivering groceries, or just taking their trash down their driveway.
I’ve met some of the most fascinating people. A Park ranger, a woman who was a pilot back in the 50s, a former volunteer firefighter, a renowned artist, and former volunteers who have found themselves on the receiving end of help. I have met some of the most positive, grateful, and sweet people, many of whom have spent most of their lives here and know so much of the history.
Every time I complete one of these quick little errands for someone, I find that I have the best day for myself. I’m more productive, happy, grateful, and just in a great mood all day. It feels so good to help people who are so grateful.
I wonder why there aren’t more volunteers for the Wheels and the Handy Helpers programs, and I think it’s probably a combination of a few things: maybe people don’t even know about them; maybe they don’t want to commit too much with their busy schedules and don’t think their limited free time is enough. These programs allow you to sign up for whatever days you want and as few or as many as you want. They even have a floater pool for those who don’t really know their schedules in advance. Those opportunities to help typically come with at least two days of warning and those are requests, not demands. If you can’t do it, there’s never any pressure or anything other than kindness and gratitude from Jackie Sample, who is the coordinator for all these requests.
I fully realize that nothing is promised or guaranteed to us and that while I’m perfectly willing and able to do this for others today, tomorrow I may be on the receiving end. So today, I choose to give as much as I can, and I can honestly say that I haven’t had one moment of regret and always receive much more than I give. To see the genuine gratitude on the faces of my neighbors when I help with a simple errand fills me with my own deep gratitude that I’m able to help others today.
If you want to do something for yourself and others, I highly encourage you to contact Southside Community Connections at (209) 962-7303 and volunteer whatever time you can, whether through Wheels or Handy Helpers or any of the other great programs they offer. It truly is better to give than to receive, because we don’t always get to choose when we’re able to give.