Let’s not allow a troll to have the last word on Terrace’s community spirit.
The Snow Angels program, which connects good people with local seniors needing someone to shovel their walks, is in desperate need of volunteers. Currently, 64 seniors have signed up for assistance, but 50 of those are still on the waitlist — meaning 78 per cent are in need of someone to look after them this season.
As we posted this story (Page 10) to Facebook last week, one discompassionate reader replied simply “No pay, no way!” (we added the correct punctuation) followed by a laughing emoji with tears spilling from its eyes.
Many perplexed readers failed to see the hilarity of the comment and calmly explained the definition of volunteerism, but the troll repeated again and again, “No pay, no way!” followed by a inundation of laughing emojis.
The troll garnered support from one other person, but for the most part just rattled every other reader now defending the merits and necessity of volunteerism, especially in small communities like ours.
Oddly enough, instilling a greater sense of empathy is a virtue for which volunteerism is most often credited.
One reader suggested the troll discover that for herself. But perhaps we can all take this as a call to arms.
For those households that require children to perform household chores, why not tack on a snowy sidewalk once per week before allowances are doled out?
Do you have a New Year’s resolution to exercise more? Substitute a jog or a workout with three sidewalks.
Did you get a spanky new snow blower for Christmas but haven’t been given enough bad weather to show it off? There’s a lot of seniors who would love to have their peace and quiet shattered for a few minutes.
The psychological benefits of volunteering are documented and measured in endless scientific studies. So yes, the chances are you’ll feel great after lending a hand, but if that’s not enough to draw us out into the snow think creatively for other reasons to help where everyone benefits.
Despite what our troll thinks, there are many ways to get paid for volunteering.