Work together, play together

“Together everyone achieves more.” This is the basis of every TEAM.

Our community works together. As with any team, we each have our own role within the community. On a football team, there are defensive players, offensive players, special teams, coaches and fans.

For some of us, we are the fans in the stands; we offer support and cheering on the team. This could be in the form of donations. For some of us, we are the coaches and teachers. We guide and instruct. We teach the life skills our neighbors need to strive and build a successful community. We are the leaders in the agencies of our county. Some of us are on the special teams, learning special skills to help out at the right time. The offensive and defensive players are the volunteers in the community that allow our agencies to serve and help individual needs of the community.

All members of the team are needed to achieve the goal — even if every game is not won. The same aspects of the team of football are in our everyday lives. The goal of the football team is to win and play hard and our goal should be to build a better community.

Grow together

With the help of others we can stand united and united we can do more. As a community, together, we can be of better service than working alone. We can make a change as individuals and create a bigger impact on our community as a whole and change the community to one we want to live and prosper in.

As a community, we can make small changes that lead to big things. The participation in the Vitality Project is a great example of how the community grew together by adding a couple years to each of our lives, the overall effect was much bigger.

The relationships and friendships that were formed will continue to make our community stronger. As we move forward we can continue to grow individually and collaborate to grow a better community. As John Lennon wrote and sang, “Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be.”

Build together

A blueprint is needed to build a house. For us to build a community, we need a blueprint, also. We need to determine the building blocks important to ourselves and others. The building blocks of the United Way are education, income and health. These blocks are built by each of us investing in our community, advocating for the cause and giving of our time. Everyone needs to work together to achieve the common good of our community. Rome was not built in a day, and the small steps each of us take will build a better and united community.

If we work together, play together, grow together and build together, we can Live United.

Tiffany Kriesel is a board member for the United Way of Freeborn County.