Today’s Volunteer Chronicles…
Ya girl (🙋🏾♀️) ain’t as young as she used to be. I am typing this while the soles of my feet are deciding if they will allow me to use them ever again. Stay with me though because I have a lot to say and I promise, if you don’t learn something about fire safety, what I say may remind you to tell someone else. As for the pictures, the story goes like this…
National Small Business Week has worn me out. So I show up to volunteer to install smoke detectors in homes near Carver High School with the WSFD and the Red Cross this morning, and those people were FULL of energy this introvert wanted no parts of, especially since I’m not UP UP til 11a at the EARLIEST. They wanted us to take a group photo. Pic 1 is of the sign I chose and Karma was immediate. Pic 3 represents my feelings about the lady in pic 2 who plopped right beside me, even though the ENTIRE gym was available, to “test me.” She wanted to engage in a full convo while loudly crunching on trail mix (in case you didn’t know, I do NOT like to hear people chew). Pic 5 represents my feelings for the man in pic 4 who plopped even closer beside me despite there being a lot of space on the bench. He also coughed and cleared his wet throat with his mouth open in MY direction and y’all know, it’s ALWAYS “flu season.”
On to the adventure…
We knocked on doors in the Carver School area to replace and install smoke detectors. Before lunch, my team had a fireman, so the people trusted us. After lunch, the fireman had to go on a call so people were suspicious of 3 women walking with a wagon in red shirts. I was the only chocolate drop on the entire adventure and I had to school my fellow volunteers to refrain from pulling on locked screen doors in black neighborhoods. 🙅🏾♀️👎🏾 👀
I was so happy to educate my people on fire safety. Did y’all know we are supposed to replace smoke detectors every 10 years??? Not just the batteries, the actual detector. What about there being a date on your current smoke detector for you to know when your 10 years are up. Did you know? Even though it alarms when you test it, it doesn’t mean it’s functioning, it just means the battery works. You should have 2 options of escape should a fire break out. Do your windows open? You have 2 minutes to escape a fire and once you’re out, STAY OUT. I have more tips but I’ll end it with what one of the homeowners said about fire safety when cooking…”babysit your food.” Should you or anyone you know need smoke detector assitance, contact the WSFD as they will install FREE OF CHARGE. If you want to volunteer with the “Sound the Alarm” initiative, reach out to the Red Cross.
My lack of youth showed when I arrived at Mt. Tabor to volunteer for their Arts Festival. I reevaluated my life the ride there and the walk to my post, questioning why I signed up for two events in the same day. And Michai had the nerve to want to stay til the end.
Have a wonderful weekend and pray my feet will allow me to walk again!
