Anybody can serve

“Everybody can be great. Because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve.” ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

Each year, the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) honors Dr. King and his legacy by urging all Americans to dedicate Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a day of service. President Obama and the First Lady launched United We Serve this past summer (in conjunction with CNCS) to urge ordinary Americans to make a difference during tough economic times. Given the recent events in Haiti, this initiative is extremely timely this year.

Anyone who knows me knows I’ve had a few choice words for President Obama in the past. This is one time that I won’t hesitate to put our differences aside and lend my full support to him and United We Serve.

The South Palm Beach County division of United We Serve hosted the kickoff for this nationwide initiative yesterday. More than 35 nonprofits and countless volunteers attended the event, which was held at the Jewish Federation of SPBC Campus. United We Serve organized 650 people to go out and serve in the Palm Beach County community today in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. These volunteers are serving a variety of worthwhile causes, from helping build a new child development center to putting up new soccer nets for children that wouldn’t be able to afford them otherwise.

This country was founded on the basis of upholding human rights and has a long history of dedication to service. Somewhere along the way, we’ve lost the sense of commonality that set this country apart from every other country in the world. We need to get back to our roots, remember the common link between people, and be compassionate to our neighbors.

I urge every person reading this to take the time to do something for your community. This is a time when we need to put politics aside and come together for a common goal. This special day should give us all pause to remember how lucky we are to live in this country, and how fortunate we are to be in the position to give something back. My wife and kids are out there right now doing just that – they are part of United We Serve’s 650-member team, volunteering in Palm Beach County’s migrant fields. Another perk? I bet they’ll end up getting more back than they ever imagined they would.