Tennessee Volunteers

 bob-maclafferty  No Responses »
Apr 042020
 

volunteer Tennessee the Volunteer State is known for, you guessed it, volunteering! During the Mexican-American war in the early 19th century, President Polk called for 2600 volunteers. 30,000 Tennessee Volunteers showed up! Over ten times what was requested! Even as  guidelines become stiffer, our Governor Lee is still counting on Tennesseans volunteering to “Do Your Part. Stay Apart.” without the mandatory restrictions used in other places.

As I drove back from the hospital at 0500 this morning after delivering my nurse daughter yet again for her shift at the hospital, I thought about how we often do just the minimum, or comply my performing no more than the required duties. What if we lived up to our name as Tennesseans? The wonder women of Memorial’s 7North continue to accept shifts screening staff for illness, standing in and out of the door to keep our hospital safe. My wife and I have signed up for various volunteer opportunities in our church and community. I drive my daughter to work regularly to reduce her stress and lend my support (safely) to her.

What if we didn’t wait for more restrictions, but embraced the guidelines already laid down and took them one step further? What if we all actively searched for ways to help neighbors in our communities?

The biblical Israelites were instructed to build a temple for worship. They were asked to bring precious metals and stones as well as other valuables to be used in its construction. They brought so many gifts that finally the architect asked for them to stop giving!

“The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the Lord commanded to be done.” -Exodus 36:5

What would our state look and feel like if the Governor said, “Folks! stop returning masks to hospitals. They have more than enough!” What if he said, “Churches can re-open now because we have not only flattened the curve, but stomped it!” What if he said, “Please go ahead and buy toilet paper. Stores are getting overstocked!”

What if daily news was filled, not with complaints of this or that group of people being allegedly under-served, but instead carried stories of volunteers stepping forward to fill gaps in services as they became visible?

What can you do? If you are elderly or in poor health, stay at home, call neighbors to stay in touch, and pray for those around you. If you are a retired or unemployed healthcare worker, volunteer on Tennessee’s Unified Command page.  Get creative! Drop off food for neighbors. Help the tech-challenged to place orders online for pickup or delivery. Think of someone in your neighborhood that might fall through the cracks. If you haven’t already, join us in finding ways to volunteer starting today! And yes, you can do that even if you aren’t blessed to be a Tennessee Volunteer!

Tennessee Tough Volunteers

 bob-maclafferty  1 Response »
Mar 282020
 

Tennessee Tough volunteersMarie Williams, Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Commissioner, wrote and op-ed piece yesterday about Tennessee’s response to the COVID-19 crisis. She quoted legendary Lady Volunteers coach Pat Summit in stating that we are “We are Tennessee tough, Tennessee strong, and Tennessee true.”

As we see the case numbers climb, it is easy to succumb to fear and selfishness. While part of me has wished for more mandated restrictions across the Volunteer State, I am proud of what many Tennesseans have chosen to do, simply because it is the right thing to do to protect our state and the loved ones around us.

At 0430 this morning, I had the privilege of driving my daughter, an RN at Chattanooga’s Memorial Hospital, to work. Today, she is not working her floor, but joining several colleagues in screening team members and visitors alike [for COVID-19 symptoms] to ensure that the hospital, and the community it serves, stays safe. The wonder women of 7 North are truly Tennessee Tough volunteers as they step into harm’s way to keep us safe.

I had the privilege of affirming them for a couple of minutes this morning as they stood outside the hospital. They voluntarily risk exposure for twelve long hours, submitting to abuse by angry visitors and sometimes even from stressed team members. They exhibit grace and strength and humor as they willingly stand in the gap to keep our sick patients and health care professionals and us safe.

You might be thinking, “But that’s their job!” Yes it is. But rather than calling in “sick” or refusing to serve in this way, they choose to take this often thankless job to help keep us safe. Once, long ago, a man voluntarily stepped into harm’s way to save me and to save you. Not because we deserved it, but because of love for us:

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. -Romans 5:8 NIV.

Just as Jesus did, our 7 North wonder women volunteer to protect and care for us, even if we are never thankful or deserving. I challenge you to join me in two things this morning. First, thank someone around you who is working to help you or your community. It could be a nurse, a clinical laboratory scientist, a grocery checkout person, or a restaurant drive-through window team member. Second, join the volunteers in your community who are not waiting to be required, but are choosing to social distance, volunteering to restrict buying scarce supplies, and willingly not buying the masks and gloves so that are so vital to health care workers.

I believe that the COVID-19 case numbers in Chattanooga are lower than in other metro areas, not because of ordered restrictions, but because of volunteers who choose to do their part to keep their communities and loved ones safe. Tennessee is living up to its nickname as the Volunteer State! Will you join them and me today! Please Share!

Click for CDC’s simple wisdom about how to protect yourself and those around you