A Volunteer State

Heartbreaking.  As the path of destruction has become clearly defined, the rising number of fatalities from this week’s devastation reminds us all of how precious life is, and how quickly our world can completely change.  We all live at the mercy of Mother Nature.  This week has been a grim reminder of that. But this is not the first tragedy our city and state has dealt with.  We know how to respond.

 

Tennessee is known as, “The Volunteer State”.  In times like these, we all are afforded the opportunity to put that moniker into action. Hands On Nashville is working with Metro's emergency operations center to develop a list of volunteer opportunities. The outpouring of volunteers has repeatedly ‘crashed’ the server on HON's volunteer sign-up page (Click Here); they are working with their web provider to make the site more robust. If you can’t get on their site immediately, keep checking back.

 

Not everyone has the ability to donate time.  There are other opportunities to help.  If you wish to donate money, you can do so through the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee's Middle Tennessee Emergency Response Fund by clicking here.  We here at Bates Nursery want to help as well.  This coming week, Friday March 6-Thursday March 12, we will donate 10% of your purchases to the Middle Tennessee Emergency Response Fund.  

 

The weekend weather looks wonderful.  The timing looks great for donating time in clean up efforts, or planting in your own garden.  Either way, you will know you are helping those whose lives have been disrupted.  None of us have control over nature’s tragic events that occur in life.  We do have the ability to respond. I know we all will; in the way that best suits our individual abilities.  

 

We are now OPEN Saturdays!  There will be many changes to our business hours over the next few weeks, so stay tuned.  Remember: Spring Forward on Sunday!

 

David Bates