David Berger

It is rewarding to see things that are important getting achieved. You meet people in the trenches and achieve these things together and that is fun. It can be small, but it is positive. In dark times, light a match. If you want to get involved in your community, just go to a meeting for any project and hold on! I would say, stay close to home because your commitment will stay happier if you do so. You will be able to sustain it over time. There is plenty going on in every neighborhood with parks, social justice, and mentoring. There are multiple opportunities to take advantage of anybody's skill set or interests. read more »

Jennifer Wengeler

I want to contribute in some way. It is like me to want to do something with a lot of freedom about when I do it. I don't have to schedule it with other people; I can do it if and when I want to and I like that what I'm doing is outdoors.

I think every action makes a difference. Every ounce of peace in someone's heart contributes to world peace. I believe that and I feel it is really important to be able to contribute to affect more people. This is a small way that works for me at this time in my life, it feels good to me to contribute. I believe that the need to contribute is a really strong human need. read more »

Karen Moe

My inspiration has come mostly from a few individuals, which is why I take so seriously my function as a role model for my nephew.

My friend Meredith quit her job at age 51 to join the Peace Corps. She is now back at her regular job again but still finds time to volunteer with a hospice home-visit program. Her stories are moving. It is obvious that her volunteer work is a rich source of strength, purpose, and satisfaction in her life.

My now-deceased work colleague Larry did hands-on volunteering as a scientist for the Sierra Club for decades. After he retired, he helped start a new public library in a small town in the Upper Skagit Valley and helped countless neighbors with his workshop (which was bigger than his house!). He did these things in a unassuming, matter-of-fact way — to him, taking care of the environment and taking care of each other were just another part of what everyday life is all about. read more »

Jack Tomkinson

"My parents always spoke highly of people who were kind, disciplined, skilled, energetic, smart and generous, and they strove to be these ways. So these became my values, and I find that weaving them together is fun and satisfying. I have always volunteered here and there. I used to run the school movie projector for fun. I won a bicycle at age 13 raising money for a local charity, worked at Camp Norwester during college, and then led weekly summer bike rides for Cascade Bike Club with Scott Kralik for 10 years. The thank-yous for volunteer work are astounding. People are often inspired and changed by generosity. They can't wait to do something nice for someone else so they can return the gift." read more »

Jennifer Smith

"I think that everyone is moving so fast and that our cities are growing. Often times you are living so close to your neighbors and it is nice to have a green space to appreciate quiet, to meet your neighbors, for kids to play or to view a beautiful sunset. I think that preserving green space in any city is important. In Minnesota where I am from, we have more space and so here I feel dedicated to keeping some of the city green. If we can preserve land, it would benefit Seattle a lot." read more »

Susan Casey

"Barbara Donette says that in community gardens we grow food and we grow community. You can connect with people over gardening in a way that you can't otherwise. I know the people down at the garden more than I do the neighbors in my apartment building. It means that we connect over a larger geographic area, we are growing things concurrently and connecting on a basic level. We all need the garden to connect with community and to grow healthy, local, fresh food." read more »

Judith and Peter Elkins

"Generosity comes naturally for both Judith and Peter as they come from philanthropic families, and have enjoyed the benefits of a lifetime of service. They say "Both our families and friends have set great examples for us in the area of community participation, stewardship, and accountability resulting in solid roots to evolve from"." read more »