Everyone Has Something to Give

The Community Against Poverty Volunteer Fair was held yesterday afternoon at The Heights Community Center in Richmond Heights.  It was a gorgeous day both outside and inside the open and warm facility that accommodated our event.  The day began with over twenty organizations arriving and setting up their displays and presentations that were unique to each of their organizations.  Before the public arrived, it was fantastic to witness the different organizations networking and communicating with one another.

The fair officially began with remarks from the Community Against Poverty chair Renee Marver.  Reverend  C. Jessel Strong, the President of  the St. Louis Metropolitan Clergy Coalition, gave his thanks to all of the volunteers present.  His message of gratitude set a fantastic tone for the entire event.  The keynote speaker, Martin Rafanan, is the executive director of Gateway 180: Homelessness Reversed and spoke about the attribution of success of his agency to volunteers.  Martin gave a powerful insight into the importance of not only volunteering but also about the benefits of bringing together different organizations with varied strengths to fight poverty on a united front.

After the keynote speaker, the volunteer organizations opened up their booths to the public and those present walked around the room, stopping at nearly every table.  I took my own trip through the room and recognized several organizations that I had been in contact with prior to the event.  It was exciting to put names to faces and to touch base with several people that I have been working with on other projects. 

I would like to highlight a few organizations that I was not familiar with that I became informed of as a result of the CAP Fair.  Ready Readers is an organization that trains, places and supports volunteers to read weekly in an assigned classroom of pre-school age children in low-income communities throughout the St. Louis area.  This organization originally caught my attention because two of my favorite books from my childhood were displayed on the table.  After speaking with their representative, I was inspired by the mission of Ready Readers and was ready to add another hour of volunteering to my already jam-packed schedule.  I was also introduced for the first time to St. Louis Bworks.  This organization provides opportunities for at-risk children to expand their abilities in a safe, supportive environment.  They have programs that incorporate bicycles, books, and computers.  These organizations are just two of the many that made the CAP Volunteer Fair a true mix of opportunity.   

CAP is a part of the Jewish Community Relations Council's Bohm Social Justice Initiative.  Through this initiative, the JCRC develops community collaborations for social justice education and social action projects.  The CAP Volunteer Fair is a perfect execution of both parts of the Bohm Social Justice Initiative.  I learned a great deal about the social inequalities and the commitments that exist in the St. Louis area to rectify them.  The CAP Fair opened my eyes to the diverse non-profit organizations that are making St. Louis a better place.  It truly reminded me that anyone, with any particular skills, experience, or interests, has something to give.