For Highlands resident Ray Such, times could be better, but he’s not complaining.
Recently unemployed, Such, 56, persevered through the holidays by focusing his attention and efforts not on his own plight in life, but instead on helping others through their difficult times.
Such called the change of attitude therapeutic.
“I could have felt sorry for myself and brought myself down because things weren’t working out for me at the time, but I didn’t,” Such said between Christmas and New Year’s Day. “I decided to take a different approach to my situation. I helped others. I volunteered.”
Such is one of about 15 volunteers who regularly pitch in at the Highlands Emergency Council located at 71 Poplar Street in Highlands, next door to the Highlands Community Center.
Mary Ann Cresswell, Grants, Projects and Programs Coordinator with the Highlands Emergency Council said Such is an enthusiastic volunteer.
“Every day Ray tries to be the best volunteer he can be,” she said. “He is so enthusiastic and eager to help out in any way he can.”
Such saw the loss of a job not as a personal and financial hardship, but as an opportunity instead, volunteering at the Highlands Emergency Council on those days he used to be working.
“I’m fortunate, I take it one day at a time,” he said. “I don’t need much. I’m not missing any meals, and I stay warm at night. A man can’t ask for much more than that.”
While volunteering during the holidays, Such saw others in a lot worse shape than him, lacking a place to lay their heads at night, no presents under the tree for the kids and no food on the table. He decided being at the Emergency Council and helping where he could was the best place for him to be.
“Losing my job may have been a bad thing for me, but it was an eye opener in that it opened up more of an opportunity for me to volunteer,” he said. “I saw how generous the people in our community can be and how quickly they act to help others. It warmed my heart to see how everybody worked to help others. I didn’t have time to feel sorry for myself. It was such a joy this past month helping them out.”
Such said the volume of donations the HEC received over the holidays was overwhelming.
“People gave so much,” he said. “And so many in Highlands donated their time to help out. It was very touching and a very rewarding experience for me. It was amazing the outreach of the public to help out like that. It made my problems seem miniscule in comparison.”
Such had been volunteering at the Emergency Council a couple days a week before losing his job before Christmas. He has called Highlands home since 1986 and just began volunteering with the Emergency Council this past year.
Such credits his mother, Shirley Carly for instilling the values in him to help others.
“My mother raised six kids on her own,” he said. “My father passed away when I was seven. She told me everything happens for a reason. God never gives you more than you can handle and good things come to those who wait. Those values have been engrained in me all my life. I believe in those. I am who I am today because of my family. Everything else comes second to family.”
Family is the most important thing to Such. He draws his strength and inspiration from his loved ones.
“Me helping… it’s such a warm, warm feeling,” he said. “When I saw all the toys donated for the kids, it’s nice to know all these children will have something under the tree at Christmas.”
During this interim, Such said his goals for the new year is to try and take this time to organize his life and keep a more positive attitude.
“I’m looking forward instead of looking in the past,” he said. “The Emergency Council helped so much in keeping a positive attitude… I saw so much good in so many people, it knocked the bad feelings out of me. This time of year it gives you such a warm feeling. I want to try and carry that feeling all through the year.”
Such knows his circumstances will improve, remembering an old George Harrison song, “All Things Must Pass,” and draws comfort knowing he will rebound soon.
Until then, he chooses to spend his spare time helping others and making sure their needs are met first.
“It’s the good feeling I get,” he said. “It’s what gets me out of bed each morning.”
The HEC staffs about 15 full-time volunteers, and they come for a variety of reasons, but at the core is a need to help others.
Marie Johnson, also of Highlands, said volunteering was, good for the soul.
“She absolutely loves the being of this place,” Creswell said. “She comes every day. She doesn’t have to be here, but she’s here every day.”
Johnson said it made her heart shine.
“I just love it here,” she said.