You know MD.....I just read your signature line. Where do you live? Is it REALLY that bad there?
Have you heard of the disasters that have happened here in Oklahoma the last couple of years? You probably don't believe me buuttt.......you wouldn't believe HOW MUCH people here are MORE than HAPPY to "GIVE SOMETHING BACK"! Neighbor helping neighbor after our fires this year and last. Tornado's.....people that have lost EVERYTHING themselves going to help their neighbor instead of taking care of themselves first. People VOLUNTEERING time, money, and food at overwhelmed animal shelters. People this year GIVING for FREE hay by the truckloads to fellow farmers and ranchers that have been affected by the drought.
My son goes to a private CHRISTIAN school and it is UNBELIEVABLE how much "GIVING BACK" people do, and are MORE than happy to do it. You wouldn't believe how many people VOLUNTEER their TIME and MONEY to the school. People are HAPPY and GENUINE! Parents, Grandparent's, Uncles, Aunt's, former students, have MORE than givin back to what was givin to them. MILLIONS and MILLIONS of dollars donated to complete projects. Parents from ALL age groups VOLUNTEERING their time for dinners, sports, school projects and activities. WE, the entire school and parents and teachers and headmaster, during the school year pick different parks around the community and take a WHOLE day and VOLUNTARILY cleanup, paint, sweep, rake, the ENTIRE parks and renew them for another year.
My wife works at the school for the Athletic Director and Dean of Men and she had to set up a Charter bus for him because we have an away football game tonight. It's going to cost $660 for the bus. Guess what? Two different people DONATED the money to pay for the bus! People "GIVING BACK"
My wife had foot surgery Tuesday and you wouldn't believe the people bringing food over, VOLUNTEERING to pick up or take my son to school for us, and us actually TRUSTING someone else with our son. You'll not find better people and they are just wanting to "GIVE BACK"! And expect NOTHING in return. We have also done the same for others.
My 7yr old son and I went to the teams football camp at a CHRISTIAN camp called FALLS CREEK, look it up, for 3 nights and 4 days, and SEVERAL other Fathers, some of which didn't even have kids playing, VOLUNTEERED our time to cook and clean up after the team daily. We had a GREAT time doing it. People taking vacation time from work to VOLUNTEER their time and money and "GIVE SOMETHING BACK"!
Hopefully it's REALLY not that bad where you live. If it is, you are more than welcome to move here to Oklahoma and I would be more than HAPPY to introduce you to some HAPPY folks, including myself, although we do BELIEVE IN and CELEBRATE GOD! Maybe you can eventually get over that You will just have to put up with being surrounded by HAPPY folks. There is a house across the street from me For Sale and it is more than affordable, I'll set you up with the Realtor.
I have been all over this World and country. I have lived in Alaska and Delaware and I can't imagine living anywhere else! Hopefully it is the same elsewhere.
As a native "Okie", I/We don't have to "remember" "giving back" because we do it EVERYDAY!