Mark Edgington | Dad, Writer, and Community Volunteer

Dedicated to family, service, and growth. Sharing experiences that inspire others to live with purpose and contribute to their communities.

How to Support Those Reentering Society After Incarceration by Mark Edgington

Reentry isn’t a moment, it’s a process. And for many who are returning from incarceration, that process can feel like learning to live...

5 days ago2 min read

The Car Crash That Pushed My Volunteer Firefighter Skills to the Limit by Mark Edgington

I served as a volunteer firefighter with the Westmoreland Volunteer Fire Department in New Hampshire from about 2008 to 2020. It was a...

5 days ago2 min read

Building Lasting Change: Lessons from Foundation of Hope Uganda by Mark Edgington

Years ago, I was introduced to Foundation of Hope Uganda , a grassroots orphanage in the small village of Kagoma. What started as a...

Aug 251 min read

Supporting St. Jude’s: Helping Kids Fight Against the Odds by Mark Edgington

There are some causes that speak so clearly to the heart, you don’t need to be convinced, you just show up. For me, St. Jude Children’s...

Aug 252 min read

The Value of Listening in Community Work

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my time volunteering, mentoring, and trying to make a dent in the world, it’s this: you can’t help...

Aug 182 min read

Volunteering 101: How Anyone Can Start Giving Back

If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that giving back doesn’t require a title, a platform, or a perfect past. When I...

Aug 182 min read

Why I Support Local Radio: Donating to WSLR by Mark Edgington

I’ve always believed that community is built on voices that inform, connect, and challenge us to think differently. That’s why, when the...

Aug 102 min read

The Power of Giving: Reflections on Donating Blood for a Greater Cause by Mark Edgington

I don’t remember the first time I gave blood. I just remember how ordinary it felt. A folding chair. A needle. A little discomfort. Free...

Aug 102 min read

Transformation Through Accountability by Mark Edgington

I used to be pretty good at rationalizing things. I could explain away almost anything. “It wasn’t really my fault.” “People...

Aug 51 min read

One Bag at a Time: Picking Up Trash on My Walks in Utila by Mark Edgington

When I go out for a walk in Utila, I’m usually trying to get into Zone 2. That’s the range where your heart rate’s up but you’re not...

Aug 12 min read

Why Steady Hard Work Beats Shortcuts Every Time by Mark Edgington

But here’s what no one tells you until it’s too late: Shortcuts always come with a cost. And the bill shows up eventually. The Cost of...

Aug 12 min read

Taking Care of Shotzi by Mark Edgington

Last week, my mom’s friend went to the hospital due to a heart condition, and her little dog Shotzi was left by himself. This is the kind...

Jul 211 min read

Supporting Families in Honduras by Mark Edgington

There are a few Honduran families I’m close with who work near the coral restoration site. I see them when I visit, and consider them a...

Jul 211 min read

Lending Boats and Equipment for Coral Restoration: A Small Contribution with Big Impact by Mark Edgington

I’ve always believed that if you have something useful — tools, time, knowledge, a boat — you ought to share it. That belief is what led...

Jul 212 min read

The Small Things That Shape a Life

When people talk about turning points, they usually picture big moments. Headlines, handshakes, contracts. But in my experience, the...

Jul 122 min read

Owning My Past Without Excuses by Mark Edgington

At 17 years old I made a terrible mistake. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and because of that, I spent my twenties behind...

Jul 121 min read

Service as Redemption: Showing Up When It Matters Most by Mark Edgington

I didn’t grow up with a deep understanding of service. I used to think giving meant handing over a check or offering advice. But after...

Jul 82 min read

Operation Turnaround: Turning Setbacks Into Opportunities by Mark Edgington

Some of the most important work I’ve done in my life happened while I was still behind bars. It wasn’t part of my sentence. It wasn’t...

Jul 83 min read

What Redemption Looks Like: A Personal Reflection by Mark Edgington

Life doesn’t judge us by the past. It responds to the choices we make today. I’ve faced moments in my life where my actions had serious...

Jul 22 min read

How a Bison Gored Man Inspired Me to Join the Westmoreland Volunteer Fire Department by Mark Edgington

Volunteer firefighting is often a quiet, unheralded service. From around 2008 to 2020, I was proud to serve as a volunteer firefighter...