Vendor Writing

Volunteer Spotlight on Joe First

By Norma B.

It’s time to take note of another Contributor volunteer! So without missing a beat, please allow me take a moment to sing the praises of Joe First, a retired music teacher who taught elementary age children from K-5 for 30 years!

(In case you’re wondering, that translates to over 700 kids a week, each year!) All I can say about that is WOW! (Readers feel free to applaud, or better yet, can I get a standing ovation for Joe?)

In addition, he taught band for five years, that is until the county defunded the program. Sadly, he lamented,“it was only for the kids whose parents could afford the instruments,” which was a source of irritation for Joe.

He’s also conducted a number of choruses throughout his teaching career.

He pointed out that this type of music certification is the ONLY one that requires you to be qualified to teach ALL grade levels K-12, something I didn’t know. (Most education degrees focus on either the elementary education level, or the middle/high school education level, not both.)

In harmony with ALL that musicality, he’s played the piano from age eight. He added another instrument years later at age 40, when he took up the accordion­ — an instrument he admits he’s STILL trying to master. He’s also been in a number of bands throughout his life, in fact, he still playing gigs every chance he gets!

So how did someone with that background come to volunteer at The Contributor?

In 2009, he spotted vendor Chris R. at a McDonald’s as he was walking down 12th and Broadway, where he bought his first copy of The Contributor. Joe read it and thought it was a wonderful paper. He loved EVERYTHING about it, and wanted to be a part of it from that moment on!

He says he enjoys helping organizations that help people!

With that in mind, it should come as no surprise that in 2011, he filled out an online reader survey from a Contributor issue and clicked in a box asking if there was an interest in being a volunteer.

Six weeks later, he got a call back asking if he could come in to volunteer THAT DAY!

No big deal, right? Did I mention he lives in rural Cheatham County between Ashland City and Pleasant View? (Not exactly right around the corner from The Contributor office in downtown Nashville.)

Since that time, he’d come in on paper release day to help out, and he ALWAYS fills in when someone can’t make it for their shift.

In 2012, he took a regular shift as a volunteer, which recently changed to Mondays and Thursdays, but I can assure you he’s there every chance he gets!

This is nothing new for Joe, you see, he’s volunteered in his community at a number of locations since he was 20, including a number of places in Nashville, before he found The Contributor.

He is driven by a desire to help people, and he feels he accomplishes that EVERY TIME he comes in.To quote him concerning the paper, he says, “We help people help themselves!”

He admits a lot has changed since he first came onboard. In particular, he noted the addition of the housing unit and other wrap around services in particular that help people experiencing homelessness.

Just as The Contributor continues to help those in need, Joe too plays an instrumental part in helping the vendors he comes in contact with on a regular basis. We are blessed to have him as a loyal volunteer!

A Gift

By John H., Contributor Vendor

Remembering back in grade school my worst subject was reading. Teacher hand me a book and the first thing I asked is, “what do you want me to do with that?" She said to read the first three chapters out loud. Seems it was a beginning of a nightmare. Today I think about it and I give God all the praise. God turned a nightmare into something I love. Almost as if God turned a blessing into a gift.

I have a friend name Joann, one of my customers. She works in an elderly home. She usually drop by and pick up 10 papers every time she buys and I asked who are she getting these papers for. She told me her story about work and all til one day she dropped by and said, “John I need you to come with me for a while.” I got in the car. She took me to the place she worked. We walked in and amazing things happened. A man who hadn’t gotten out of his chair for a week other than the restroom got up and walked to me and shook my hand. A lady who hadn’t uttered a word said, "John I have been waiting to meet you." Then I looked around and saw Joann in tears and immediately I went to her and asked her, whats wrong? "John, you gotta know what I mean. Just when I thought all them where giving up, you brought light into this room. They all were smiling, laughter, you name it it was going on. A total turn around from the last two previous weeks." The CEO even walked in and was amazed. He even walked up and wanted to greet me with a hug and handshake. He asked me was if any way I could come here once a month, maybe.

These people had been reading my articles for about eight or nine years. They all told me reading my articles was like a gift. I responded, “well this gift will be coming to see you live in living color from now on.” It was amazing. Something I’ve never experienced.

I said to myself, when I share God’s word there is no way I can go wrong. For a man who hated reading, what a gift to write.

Stop Harassing Us

By July B., Contributor Vendor

Why is the city threatened by homeless people? Is it that they think that homeless people are going to take over the city? Is it because they know they can't control the homeless population so they have to threaten and harass and stalk homeless people? Don’t they have better things to do?

Why don’t they make a solution for us like taking these abandoned buildings and making them so homeless people can live in them instead of harassing and threatening homeless people.

Maybe if there was more housing for homeless people we wouldn’t be homeless? Do you know there were 174 homeless people who died last year and the city did nothing about it? I think the city wants homeless people to die. Well, that’s not going to happen because if you get rid of us then more and more and more are going to show up. You will always have homeless people in Nashville.

If we had housing we wouldn’t be homeless now would we? Wouldn't have to live in tents and live all over the city now would we? If the city would actually do their job and put more places for us we wouldn’t be homeless now would we? Are there buildings out there that you can renovate and use for housing? Why don’t you use the money that you get to renovate these buildings and make more housing for homeless people instead of harassing us.