Get Off Your Can and Make A Difference!
When the Black Panther Party began its Free Breakfast Program for Children in Oakland, CA in 1969, it was a amazing success. Children who would have gone without breakfast before school, went to school instead full and ready to learn. Multiple studies have proven that children that have a good breakfast before school, learn better. They are worried about reading and math instead of worrying about being hungry. The Black Panthers also provided bag lunches for the children to take to school with them when they discovered that for some children the free breakfast was the only meal that child would have that day!
This free breakfast program ultimately lead to other programs like it across the country, at its peak 10,000 children were being feed DAILY! The Black Panthers started this program on their own without any governmental assistance. In fact, they didn't even bother to ask the government, they just did it! Further, it was this program among others that got the FBI and other government organization interested in dismantling the Black Panther Party. Independent and self-sufficient black folks is clearly a very dangerous thing!
You don't need anyone's permission to volunteer! Getting involved with something you believe in and stick with it! Yes, everyone is busy and yes, volunteering takes up your time and sometimes your money. Black people in general are catching some serious heat and black women and girls are really taking some serious hits in this battle. We are well aware what the problems are, lets start working on resolving some of them.
Some Volunteering Suggestions:
The Girl Scouts of America has to be desperate for black women to participate as troop leaders. I rarely ever see a black girl scout and that makes me sad. I was a girl scout, a gangsta girl scout, but a girl scout, none the less and a good one! Vanessa and Angela Simmons (Yes, Run's little girls) are doing a special volunteer program with the Girl Scouts. Check it out!
Big Brothers Big Sisters is always looking for volunteers. Be flexible! Depending on where you live there maybe plenty of black women to be big sisters to little girls, but they may ask you to be a big sister to a little boy. Go for it! Be his big sister and find different ways to introduce him to positive black males.Join a reading program or start one. Remember R.I.F. - Reading is Fundamental? This organization still exists and they need you! Junior Great Books is another wonderful organization that could use leaders and participants. All local libraries have some kind of reading or literacy program and they always need help. And it is not just children that need help with reading and comprehension, illiteracy among adults, particularly African Americans is way too high!
If you are interested in local, state, or national politics, then find a candidate to support. Volunteer to assist with their campaign. Political candidates always need someone to work the phones, canvas neighborhoods, distribute campaign materials, etc... I am always looking for black folks when they show political campaign headquarters and I rarely see any. How many of you Barack Obama lovers have registered on his website and done more than get a bumper sticker?
This is just a sampling of volunteer opportunities out there. I will be posting other chances and places to volunteer in the near future. If you any suggestion, hit me on my blog e-mail.
