Monroe Mayor: No Skills Needed to Help Your Neighbors Today

When your community needs you, sometimes all it takes is showing up.

Monroe Mayor Friday Ellis is rallying volunteers for an emergency supply event happening today at 3 p.m. at the Monroe Civic Center. The best part? You don't need any special training or expertise to make a real difference.

"No special skills required, just a willing heart and a little time," Ellis said. "Even an hour makes a difference."

The mayor's message is refreshingly simple. In a world where we often feel we need credentials or experience to help, Ellis is reminding residents that community care doesn't require a resume. Just time and the desire to be there for your neighbors.

The event represents a practical approach to emergency preparedness. Rather than relying solely on professional services or agencies, Monroe is mobilizing its most valuable resource: everyday people willing to pitch in.

Why This Inspires

This call for volunteers challenges a common excuse many of us make. We think we can't help because we lack the right skills or enough time. Ellis flips that thinking on its head.

His invitation meets people where they are. Got an hour between errands? That counts. Never volunteered before? Perfect. The barrier to entry is intentionally low because the need is real and the work matters.

"If you're able to help, come on out and be part of taking care of one another," Ellis said. It's a reminder that community strength isn't built by experts alone. It's built by regular people choosing to show up when it counts.

Monroe residents have until 3 p.m. today to answer the call and discover just how much their "little time" can accomplish.