FRANKFORT, KY (11/25/12) – Have you ever noticed how unique those who ring bells for the Salvation Army’s red kettle Christmas program are? There are teenage bell ringers, elderly bell ringers, blind bell ringers, ringers who trade their bell for a saxophone to woo yuletide givers, and even bell ringers who ring and sing at the same time! No matter who or how wondrously different they are, these individuals share the goal of helping others.
 
Christmas is a celebration of a Child who would eventually give His life for mankind. We should honor His sacrifice by giving more to others and taking less. Volunteerism is built on the idea of “peace and good will toward men” that we hear so much about this time of year. Few service organizations that I can think of could survive without dutiful volunteers. Think of disaster relief volunteers who help when a family loses their home to a fire. Or those volunteers who build homes for the poor or provide medical assistance to those without. Or all the schools that rely upon volunteers to organize well-loved school activities and trips through their PTOs and booster clubs. When you think about it, you realize how important volunteering is to our communities and our world.
 
Listed below are some local organizations that always need volunteers. You may have another group in mind, but if you are interested in any of the groups listed here I encourage you to call them at the numbers listed. What better New Year’s resolution than to resolve to help those in need?

Here are some ideas:
 
•Habitat for Humanity The Salvation Army
144 N. Main Street 805 McCoy Avenue
Greenville, KY 42345 Madisonville, KY 42431
Phone: (270) 543-4339 Phone: 270-825-3620
 
•United Way of the Coalfield, Inc. Big Brothers Big Sisters
1 S Main St # B One S. Main Street
Madisonville, KY 42431 Madisonville, KY 42431
Phone: 270-821-3170 Phone: 270-821-0688
 
•Muhlenberg County Humane Society Muhlenberg Community Hospital
615 Muhlenberg Drive 440 Hopkinsville Street
Greenville, KY 42345 Greenville, KY 42345
Phone: 270-338-6940 Phone: 270-338-8000
 
•American Red Cross Muhlenberg County Schools
100 E. Main Cross Street 510 W. Main Street
Greenville, KY 42345 Powderly, KY 42367
Phone: 270-338-2818 Phone: 270-338-2871
 
My Christmas wish for you and your family this year is that you will have an enjoyable holiday and a healthy and prosperous new year, and that you will give back some of all you have been given. Volunteering allows you to give back. You might even change lives—including your own!

Merry Christmas.
 
Rep. Brent Yonts
 
 
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