Lexington, KY - Outside of court-ordered community service and mandatory college application padding in high school, I've never been much of a giver. This is certainly not a trait I am proud of, but I reconcile my civic shortcomings by reminding myself that through the course of my journalistic career here at Smiley Pete Publishing, I've written quite a few stories about people and organizations who have generously given their time, money and efforts to worthy causes. I know it's not the same as personally being out there in the field, but it helps me sleep better at night.
I do, however, come from a long line of givers. One set of grandparents has been the chair and vice chair of a political party in Boyd County for nearly 20 years (I will refrain from telling you which political party to avoid the passing of any sort of judgment upon me) and donate to several local charities. My parents have given, and still give, blood, sweat and tears to all the various children's ball fields - though the tears are mainly the result of my youngest brother losing a ballgame - so much so that if keeping up the grounds and working the concession stand were dollars and cents, well, let's just say I probably wouldn't still be paying off my college loan.
Another grandfather gives blood, literally. Habitually. He's working on his ninth gallon of blood donations to the American Red Cross. With only a pint of blood taken at each visit, that's quite a dedication. He has the day when he is eligible for his next visit marked on a calendar. Growing up, I always thought this was a peculiar commitment - arranging and anticipating a day when you would willfully get gouged with a needle - until I learned about how beneficial blood donations were. I also learned, when I was older, that two or three beers go a really long way after a blood donation. I'm not saying there is a correlation between this fact and my grandfather's enthusiasm, but the connection begs, at the least, a slight consideration.
In this month's issue, our first Smiley Pete Publishing's Give Guide, we give shout outs to over 60 charities and volunteer opportunities in the greater Lexington area worthy of your time, money or efforts. Preferably a mixture of all three. Writer Anne Sabatino spent the last two months compiling this information; believe it or not, it is no easy feat getting over 60 individuals to fill out a questionnaire, on deadline, no matter its purpose. Hopefully this guide is something you will read through and hang on to throughout the year.
The groups are separated into categories, and smaller features on certain organizations are available within some of these categories. Like last month, when I, unintentionally, spent all my holiday shopping money while helping report on local retail businesses, I fell prey to many organizations' need for volunteers while writing some of these smaller features. I now have a storytelling hour on Sundays at the Explorium of Lexington and, so long as I pass the background check, will be a Big Brother to some lucky Lexington kid. Fortunately, I had a moment of clarity while visiting the Kentucky Equine Humane Center, or I may have walked (rode) out with a (big) new pet. Hopefully my new "little brother" likes horses, because I have feeling this is a place we'll be visiting.
While we try to squeeze as much out of her as we can while she's still here, in this issue Sabatino also tells the story of Millard and Boo Blakey and their home in the Stonewall neighborhood, and its new green emphasis. It's a home that gives them, aside from some bodacious gadgetry, cheaper utility bills and a smaller carbon footprint. It may also give some readers another aspect of giving to ponder in their personal decisions.