NL_040617

newlenoxpatriot.com sound off
the New Lenox Patriot | April 6, 2017 | 17
Social snapshot
Top Web Stories
From NewLenoxPatriot.com as of Monday,
April 3
1. UPDATE: Driver may have lost control of
vehicle before fatal crash
2. In Memoriam: Paul G. Coughlin
3. ‘Bill never forgot where he came from’
4. UPDATE: Frankfort man dead after
vehicular crash in New Lenox Township
5. Girls Water Polo: Knights ride, Eagles
plummet after last-minute Central goal
Become a member: NewLenoxPatriot.com/plus
From the assistant editor
Think about volunteering your talents
Amanda Stoll
a.stoll@22ndcenturymedia.com
Volunteering is a
great opportunity to
not only help someone
else, but it often times
results in bettering yourself
as well.
For Shane and Sara Sudman
— who I interviewed
a couple weeks ago about
their volunteer trip to Honduras
— volunteering was a
life-changing experience.
They not only got to
bring much needed dental
care to people in an area
where it wasn’t readily
available, but they also
made new friends and Sara
got to reconnect with family
she hadn’t seen since
she was 5 years old.
The two worked as a
team, with Shane doing the
dental work and Sara translating,
which I’m sure had
a very positive effect on the
patients’ experiences.
Using their talents and
abilities was something
obvious for their trip,
where dental work requires
expertise and translating
requires you to be fluent in
another language.
It may not always be that
obvious though about how
to use your talents to help
other people.
Whether it’s something
you’re good at, something
you do for your job or even
just something you enjoy
doing, there’s probably
a way to use that skill or
interest in volunteering.
Sure, it could mean using
your carpentry skills to help
build or repair a house for
someone in need, or using
your sewing skills to make
clothing or blankets, but it
could also be as simple as
sitting with someone who
just needs someone to talk
to.
Even though something
like that may not seem like
a hard-hitting way to make
a difference, I think you’d
be surprised at how much
of an impact it can have for
someone.
Think you don’t have any
talents? I’m willing to bet
you do.
Start by thinking about
something you enjoy doing
or somewhere you enjoy
being. Are you good at
directing people, or maybe
you’re good at taking direction.
If you enjoy walking at
a forest preserve, maybe
there’s an opportunity for
you to get involved with
cleanup or building projects.
If you enjoy being around
pets, try getting involved at
a local animal shelter and
giving some love and care
to homeless pets.
If you’re passionate
about fundraising for a
cause, find an event and
see how to get involved, or
even start your own fundraising
event.
Volunteering comes in
all shapes and sizes, and
as long as you’re making a
positive influence in someone’s
life, I think you’re
doing it right.
Flirty on 30 Boutique posted this March 28:
“You rocked it again Ladies at the New
Lenox Lions Club Fashion Show. Thank you
for your participation and Amanda Fisher
from Anthony Marie Salon for their beautiful
hair.”
Like The New Lenox Patriot: facebook.com/TheNewLenoxPatriot
“Congratulations to Jenna Diers! She was
the 800m run champion at the Illinois Prep
Top Times Indoor State Meet today!”
@LWWestWarriors, on March 25
Follow The New Lenox Patriot: @TheNLPatriot
Sara Sudman (middle), of Atrium Family Dental in New Lenox, went on a mission trip with
her husband to her native country of Honduras from March 4-11. Photo Submitted
Sound Off Policy
Editorials and columns are the
opinions of the author. Pieces
from 22nd Century Media are
the thoughts of the company as
a whole. The New Lenox Patriot
encourages readers to write letters
to Sound Off. All letters must be
signed, and names and hometowns
will be published. We also ask that
writers include their address and
phone number for verification, not
publication. Letters should be limited
to 400 words. The New Lenox
Patriot reserves the right to edit
letters. Letters become property
of The New Lenox Patriot. Letters
that are published do not reflect
the thoughts and views of The
New Lenox Patriot. Letters can be
mailed to: The New Lenox Patriot,
11516 West 183rd Street, Unit
SW Office Condo #3, Orland
Park, Illinois, 60467. Fax letters to
(708) 326-9179 or e-mail to
james@newlenoxpatriot.com.
www.newlenoxpatriot.com.