Eglinton Branch, Canada / Aug 2003 Contributor: Branch Master Albert Louie

Eglinton Branch Makes Commitment to Community Service

Since March of 2003, Eglinton Branch has been a regular volunteer at Toronto's "Daily Bread Food Bank." Daily Bread distributes food donations to 170 community agencies in the Toronto area, including drop-in centres, hostels, and neighbourhood food banks for underprivileged children and the homeless. Volunteers help by sorting food donations and preparing them for shipment.

Physical training at Eglinton Branch...

Joined by kenshi from Toronto Branch, Eglinton Branch's first volunteer session was on March 15. This was followed by another session on May 10 in honour of Kaiso Day. The most recent visit was on July 16, and another is planned for mid-September. In an attempt to develop good "ethical habits" the same way that repeated kihon practice develops good physicial habits, Eglinton Branch has committed to performing some type of community service at least once every two months.

...is balanced by regular community service.

Enthusiasm for volunteering has continued to grow among local kenshi, and July's session at Daily Bread featured nearly 20 participants. Kenshi enjoy the balance that these activities provide to their physical training, and have also expressed appreciation for them as direct applications of Shorinji Kempo's philosophy.


As kenshi, we often talk about living half for ourselves and half for others. However, Kaiso said that "not doing it is the same as not thinking it", and that "beliefs without actions are meaningless". At Eglinton Branch, we have found community service to be a fun and informative way of giving extra meaning to Shorinji Kempo's beliefs.

 

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