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Working Life

A day to make a difference

By Masako Yamada


同窓会主催の奉仕活動に参加

ウェルズリー大学を卒業して8年になる雅子さんは、先日、同窓会主催の奉仕活動に参加し、オールバニーのドナルド・マクドナルド・ハウスで食事作りを手伝いました。ハンバーガーショップが世界規模で運営するこのハウスは、遠方の病院に入院する子供の家族が、無料か格安で滞在できる施設。参加のきっかけになったのは…。

When I graduated from Wellesley College in 1996, I was given the option of choosing a diploma written in English or Latin. I chose English. My knowledge of Latin is limited to a few phrases used in everyday conversation - "ex post facto," "pro bono," "quid pro quo" being examples - and I felt that I ought to understand what's written on my diploma.

Not too surprisingly, the Wellesley College motto is in Latin: "Non Ministrari Sed Ministrare." When I was a student there, I did not know the meaning of this motto. This was not only because I couldn't read Latin, but mostly because I was too young to understand it. I had occasionally come across the English translation - "Not to be ministered unto but to minister" - but it never really stuck. I was too busy thinking about my day-to-day activities and how they would lead to my future.

As an alumna, the motto means a lot more to me now. When I saw a flyer in the mail from the local Wellesley alumnae club inviting me to participate in an event called "A Day to Make a Difference," I e-mailed the organizer to let her know that I would be attending. This is an annual Wellesley event where the various alumnae clubs across the country try to organize volunteer activities on the same day. Members of the Capital District club gathered at the Albany Ronald McDonald House to prepare dinner for the families staying there.

News photo
Ronald McDonald Houseの掃除や食事はボランティアでまかなわれている
Ronald McDonald? Isn't he the funny-looking clown who represents the fast-food chain? Yes, that is the Ronald McDonald. The Ronald McDonald Houses provide lodging, meals and support for the families of children staying at hospitals. Many families cannot afford to stay in hotels for weeks or months at a time. The meals alone can be a huge expense. The families pay what they can afford to stay at the Houses; oftentimes, it means they stay for free. There are hundreds of Ronald McDonald Houses around the world, all located near hospitals.

When we arrived, we saw a calendar posted on a cabinet with the names of various organizations written under different dates. The organizations bring their own ingredients and prepare dinner. Almost all of the dates were filled. The volunteer at the front desk told us that on those rare days when no organizations sign up, they order take-out pizza (the local pizzeria donates the pizzas). From what I could tell, the local McDonald's does NOT provide burgers and fries to the families.

The alumnae club had a large turnout, with children, parents, and even the husbands of Wellesley alumnae participating. We made pasta with meat sauce or vegetarian sauce, spinach salad, vegetable sticks, mashed potatoes, deviled eggs, and garlic bread. Some of the members washed dishes or cleaned the room. We were able to prepare enough food for about 20 or 30 people in less than three hours, including clean-up time.

We had only spent one Saturday afternoon volunteering at the House and I do not know how much we had "ministered to" others in that time. It was a small sacrifice. On Monday, I was back to my comfortable career working for a large, multinational corporation. I've had lively discussions with my colleagues at work with respect to the value of participating in such events where you move on before you even know the people you are helping, where, in a certain sense, both the volunteers and the beneficiaries are nameless and interchangeable. One of my friends tells me he doesn't have the time - or doesn't want to spend the time - on such events because he'd rather spend his limited time with his loved ones. I understand his perspective, too.

I'm intrigued by the concept of charity and especially the idea that there exist many kinds of charity: One can minister to family, friends, colleagues, shared community members or strangers from different lands. I believe the ideal behind the motto "Non Ministrari Sed Ministrare" is to serve others without calculation and without any grudges. Whom exactly one decides to serve is a difficult, personal decision.



Shukan ST: Dec. 3, 2004

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