An Unselfish Volunteer: The Story

On a blistery New England winter morning, the children in the Generations Incorporated (G.I.) program at the Thomas J. Kenny School in Dorchester were working 1-on-1 with their Reading Coaches. Among those volunteers was Joe Powers, a Massachusetts native who has served with G.I. for three years.

Mr. Powers was reading with one of his students while the school’s 2nd grade class was outside at recess. Like many Boston Public Schools, the Kenny’s playground is merely an inadequate blacktop area, similar to a small parking lot. Trying to find something fun to pass their time a few boys started playing catch with some rocks they found on the weathered asphalt. Needless to say, one of those rocks found its way through the back window of a parked car on the other side of the fence. Mr. Powers’ parked car.

The principal recommended the parents of the children involved in the incident be responsible for the $200 deductible Mr. Powers had to pay out of pocket. After hearing this, Mr. Powers responded “As long as they know what they did was wrong and that it won’t happen again there is no need for their parents to pay for it…however, if they want to do something they can donate to Generations Incorporated.”

Everyday our volunteers give their time to help develop and expand the reading skills of students, encouraging them to pursue higher education. The intergenerational component this organization offers allows our mentors to be role models by setting good examples. On this day, Mr. Powers set an example by showing his unselfishness while at the same time persuading others to do the same.

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