Frank Komola retired in 2012 following a 23 year career at UPS. He belongs to the retirees chapter of Local 25, International Brotherhood of Teamsters in Boston. He and his wife, Lisa, live in Haverhill.
One of the great privileges I have had since I started volunteering at WHAV has been the chance to research, produce, and air some of the “Community Spotlight” segments that are heard at 15 past the hour every day. These segments inform the listeners about non-profit fund raising events that either benefit members of our community, or highlight the work that these organizations undertake to better the community, the institutions that exist within it, and the people who rely on us to help them in their hour of need.
Some of these organizations reach out to WHAV asking to help them get the word out for them. Other times, many organizations that are doing amazing work are not aware of the this station’s efforts to promote them for free. It’s nice to know that the phrase “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn’t” does not apply to “Community Spotlight.”
I have been retired for a little over five years now, and because of that, I have had the opportunity to lend a hand a bit. It’s a tremendous feeling to hear the response I receive from non-profit event coordinators to our offer to help them get the word out. Non-profits are in a real bind as they try to get people to support them, particularly in these times when the cost of everything seems to get more expensive every day. It’s an even bigger challenge to get the members of our community to lend some of their time to help these organizations help us.
So I just wanted to take this opportunity to encourage my fellow retirees, who like me have a little extra time on our hands, to lend those hands, and perhaps their legs, arms and intelligence to any of the many groups that could use your help, even just for an hour each week. It could be something as simple as setting up a room for a meeting. Or it could be something more time consuming that you have a level of experience with that these organizations could really use.
If you’re a regular listener of WHAV or visit our website, take a moment to learn about the organizations featured on “Community Spotlight” or go online to find one that interests you.
The reaction of surprise at your offer from the person on the other end of the phone will show how much you’ve made their day, and how it might just make your day too! And to all of you who take me up on my request, thank you from all of them and from all of us here at WHAV!