April was National Volunteer month but you don’t have to wait until next year to celebrate! Any month can be “Make A Difference” month. Of course it’s the right thing to do but giving back isn’t just good for the non-profit, it happens to also be good for you -and I don’t mean through good karma. A study done by the Corporation for National & Community Service found that volunteers live longer and enjoy a sense of pride, satisfaction and accomplishment. They also have lower rates of depression later in life than those who do not volunteer.
To maximize the health benefits find a cause or organization that really moves you. If you need a little inspiration, do a little research to see what your favorite celebrity or hero does to give back. Many of them have foundations dedicated to the causes that are close to their hearts. While some are very high profile, many of them fly under the radar. For instance Miley Cyrus, the pop star who has been called a parent’s worst nightmare, actually cares about kids - and not just corrupting them. She is involved in Blessings in a Backpack, which was founded by another Disney Channel princess, Hilary Duff. The program works with elementary school-aged children who receive free or reduced meals at school during the week but are at risk of going hungry on the weekends because their families cannot afford enough food. They provide food that the kids can take home to help supplement their family meals.
You could also check out Volunteer Match.org to search for volunteer opportunities in your community. You can search a variety of categories like animals, seniors, education, and arts & culture. They even have opportunities to volunteer that are virtual which means they be done from a computer, your home or anywhere!
If you want to make a difference but don’t have time on the weekends to donate, why not consider donating resources? Things like paper, printer ink, napkins, chairs for events, and a million other resources, are expensive and yet an organization can’t get by without them. Consider donating the things that are on the nonprofit’s “Wish List”. Organizations would also love to have your particular expertise but they may not have the funds to hire you. Let’s say you are a writer; you could offer to do the organization’s newsletter or blog. Are you a caterer or chef? Offer to provide food for an event, even if it’s just the Monday staff meeting!
There are opportunities all around us to make a difference. How are you doing it?
Edited by Melinda Thomas from Melinda Thomas Creative
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