Front-line volunteering for the @UGM @Glowbal_Group Texas BBQ

People in Canada don’t know much of my background in volunteering, so they are always surprised when I get asked “it’s your first time volunteering at this kind of event” and I cheerfully answer “oh God no, I do this all the time“. And no, I’m not boasting. It’s just that I’m used to volunteering, and in particular, front-line volunteering.

Front-line volunteering (e.g. dealing directly with clients) has been something that I have done since I was able to understand my parents’ rationale for us their five children to do volunteer work: because an integrated human being, someone who is complete, is someone (in my parents’ and in my own view) who can do art, science, sports and volunteerism.

At the UGM-Glowbal Group Texas BBQ, I did what I think I can do best at this type of events: I walked around, served tables, offered food, made conversation and visited with the people who came to the UGM-Glowbal Group Texas BBQ hungry and in need of a warm meal. As I mentioned on Facebook, I was the guy of the moment: I was the one serving iced tea! There were so many instances when I got a lump in my throat, particularly when I heard some of these people’s stories.

Their gratitude showed in so many ways: some folks wouldn’t let me clean their table and would insist that they could dispose of their own garbage. Others automatically started helping clean up as the event was coming to a close. As I told Bill, Charles and Genesa, as a scholar of neo-institutionalism, I always observe self-organized behavior, and I noticed how other folks would make sure that nobody raised a ruckus, or to abuse the system.

It was a great experience, and I was actually pretty proud of myself, because despite my weirdly extreme sensitivity to the pain of other folks (it’s something I’ve never understood, but it’s really hard for me to hang out in the Downtown East Side without feeling actual physical pain down my spine, and shivers), but I was able to tough it out all my afternoon shift.

I am proud of having been part of this worthy effort by Glowbal Group and I want to comment Emad Yacoub and Shannon Bosa-Yacoub as well as the whole team of Glowbal Group (including the always amazing Charles Zuckermann), all the volunteers (I had a lot of fun with you all!) and obviously the wonderful UGM. I’ll definitely help out in your next event.