Muhammad Ali once said, “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.”
Many of the greatest philosophers and world-changers proved many times that this is indeed the mantra to live by. For many people, actively making the world a better place is greater than any wealth, diploma, or possession. And this sentiment is evident in northeast Nebraska. Residents of the Norfolk area help people in their hometowns, while changing lives around the globe, and raising millions of dollars for worthy causes.
We care about each other here. There is always a cause to get behind, and there is always a fundraiser to support; whether it is for a person struggling with an illness or an organization giving stray animals a home. The Norfolk Rescue Mission cares for those who have nowhere else to go. When disaster strikes, individuals and businesses alike step up to be there for those impacted. It is no wonder that the Norfolk Area is home to numerous services.
And efforts aren’t limited to our own backyards. The Norfolk area has a substantial world-wide impact. There are groups like Mercy Meals, an organization stationed in Norfolk that sends meals to impoverished nations all over the globe. The Orphan Grain Train, a volunteer network that ships donated food, clothing, and medical supplies to 62 different countries, has its home in downtown Norfolk.
Substantial financial contributions are made each year. A local radio station raises more money per capita than anywhere in the world for St. Jude Children’s research hospital; and in one night at an annual charity event, a local
organization raised almost one hundred thousand dollars to help our local hospital purchase new equipment.
The region’s population has increased tremendously over the last hundred years, and the industries and economics have amplified, but one thing has always remained constant: we give back, we put an emphasis on worthy causes, and we roll up our sleeves to get things done. If serving others is the rent we pay while living on Earth, than the Norfolk Area has never missed a payment.
