Find Yourself, Serve Others, Drink Coffee

The flavours of Salt Spring are rich and varied and go well with a good cup of coffee.  And you can find both at the Saturday market.  One of the best ways to enjoy these pleasures is to stand behind the Ometepe Coffee table as a volunteer at the Saturday market.  As Mahatma Gandhi said: "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."

And there is much to get lost in at the market.  It is a great place to people watch, see friends and neighbours and chat with strangers. Today on my first shift behind the market table I chatted with a young girl about her pink fairy doll named Lila while her Grandma and mom got coffee.  A couple from California who had visited Ometepe Island stopped by to chat and a young woman said that our coffee was the highlight of the Saturday market for her each week.  Market vendors are always popping by for their cup of coffee.  Today the Raging Grannies came and sang a song beside the table. The Taoist Tai Chi group did a demo on the grass nearby and a palm reader set up on the grass not far away. And there is always a moment to chat with your fellow volunteers.

Baskets overflowing with peppers, ripe melons and onion bread called from a nearby stall and Brigitte and Bruno's artfully displayed French pastries were in clear view.  And there is always a moment or two to nip out and buy your favourite market bread and cheese.

As anyone who has volunteered anywhere knows, you seem to get more than you give. You get to feel good about offering your service. The act of doing your work is a pleasure and the memories of your contribution linger warmly in memory.  The Salt Spring Ometepe group welcomes new volunteer members.  The work is straightforward and not difficult.  And there is always an opportunity to make and nurture new friendships and spend some quality social time volunteering at the market, the film festival and the fall fair.  There are monthly meetings where you can learn more about the organization and their work (and have coffee of course!)
and a Christmas potluck to get to know members and share a delicious meal.