The Millstone Times December 2018

Coming Together for the Greater Good this Martin Luther King, Jr. Day By YMCA of Western Monmouth County

For over 20 years, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service has encouraged individuals to volunteer their time to improve their communities. That spirit of community service can be a rallying point to heal our differences through a common cause, as giving back and strengthening the places where we live, work and play is something we all can agree on. Here at the Y we’re encouraging everyone to use this day, Monday, January 21, 2019, as a call to action to get involved—in large or small ways—to make our communities better. In our busy day-to-day lives, volunteering can quickly take a back seat to other obligations and priorities. In fact, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, volunteering has seen a decline in the United States; only 25 percent of American adults volunteered in 2016, the lowest rate since the government began collecting this data 14 years ago. Our communities need volunteers to keep them strong. The less people volunteer the more underserved children, families and adults don’t get the help they need to lead productive and fulfilling lives. Our Y relies on volunteers to do everything from serve on our board to assist with youth swim lessons. Each of our volunteers’ selflessness and willingness to roll up their sleeves to give back helps improve the lives of thousands of kids, adults and families. Additionally, while the community benefits from a volunteer’s work, the volunteer benefits as well. A recent Gallop poll found that nine out of 10 people said they receive an emotional boost from doing kind things for other people. It’s this kind of emotional boost that will bring us together as a nation. We’re grateful for every one of our Y volunteers and we hope you’ll join their ranks. To learn more about volunteer opportunities at the Y, please visit ymcanj.org. Join us to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at our 30th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Breakfast. Hosted by The Community YMCA and the YMCA of Western Monmouth County and featuring Keynote Speaker Rev. Ronald L. Sparks of Bethel AME Church in Freehold, the breakfast will be held on Monday, Jan. 21, 2019 from 8–10am at Branches Catering, 123 Monmouth Road, West Long Branch, NJ 07764. For more information and to register, visit www.cymca.org/mlk.

www. TheMillstoneTimes.com 41