Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Volunteering Opportunities, Creative Ways To Give Back That'll Interest You On Every Level!

Let me start off by apologizing for posting a day late. I'll be honest, I lost track of time. I was busy majority of the day volunteering my time to give back to the community.  I realize that it is my own responsibility to post when it is due, yet I hope that you will cut me a little slack in my busy schedule when I'm a little late. That being said, I'd like to talk today a little about why its important to give back to your community.  I'll start with a little about my experiences yesterday. 
 
I spent all day in the beautiful sunshine out on a golf course. I know what you're thinking.
"Wow! Seems like a pretty sweet gig to just hang out in the sun playing golf." 
But let me explain further before you make your judgments. I, myself, did not get to play golf, and honestly, I'm grateful. I'm TERRIBLE at golf! But that's besides the point. I spent my day keeping score for a group of 4 that donated to the tournament sponsor to be able to play.  The Konica Minolta Golf Classic tournament is sponsored by the National Kidney Foundation.
"The National Kidney Foundation, Inc. (NKF) is a major voluntary health organization in the United States, headquartered in New York City with over 30 local offices across the country. Its mission is to prevent kidney and urinary tract diseases, improve the health and well-being of individuals and families affected by these diseases, and increase the availability of all organs for transplantation."

The organization's activities focus on awareness, prevention and treatment. Initiatives include public and professional education, kidney health screenings, research, and patient services.

The National Kidney Foundation publishes a number of scientific journals including the American Journal of Kidney Diseases, Advances in Chronic Kidney Disease and the Journal of Renal Nutrition. The NKF also publishes the Kidney Dialysis Outcomes Quality Initiative KDOQI, a comprehensive set of clinical practice guidelines.

The NKF has been a vocal advocate for increasing all forms of kidney transplantation. It has published a position statement against allowing monetary compensation for kidney donations. Some have accused it of trying to stifle public discussion on this subject. The National Kidney Foundation annually conducts the Spring Clinical Meetings as its premier educational conference. It has over 20 years of experience providing continuing education to the kidney health care community. The Spring Clinical Meetings have educated over 55,000 professionals, delivered over 2,500 interactive sessions, and offered over 3,200 hours of continuing education credits. On World Kidney Day, the foundation sponsors KEEP Healthy screenings around the United States. NKF holds hundreds of kidney-health screenings throughout the year to identify individuals who are at risk for chronic kidney disease.

The National Kidney Foundation does not, nor have they ever, had a program that provides access to dialysis machines in exchange for pull tabs on beverage cans. This rumor has existed since at least the 1970s, however, the Foundation themselves have denied this, noting that 80 percent of the cost of dialysis in the United States is usually covered by Medicare.

Usually, the competitors for this tournament are pretty carefree and will ensure that you're not only included, but that you're having a good time while giving back. Every year, I make sure to volunteer for this opportunity because of what the NFK does for people with its research and programs, but also for the great experience that I have every time I join.

But do you want to know why I give back?  Let's dive into some of the most common reasons that people try to give back to their communities!


7 Good Reasons to Give Back

Whether you donate money or time, giving back is beneficial--and not just for the recipients. Research has shown that the old adage, “it’s better to give than to receive” is true after all. A Gallup survey on volunteering in the U.S.A. found that 52% of volunteers do it because they like doing something useful and helping others. Another 38% said they enjoy doing volunteer work and feeling good about themselves.

Besides feeling good about yourself for doing something for others, giving back is also good for your physical health. In a Canadian study, 85% of Ontario volunteers rated their health as "good," compared to 79% of non-volunteers. Only 2% of volunteers reported "poor" health, one-third the amount of non-volunteers who reported the same health status. Still other studies have shown a relationship between volunteering and increased self-esteem, with volunteers reporting both greater personal empowerment and better health. Doing for others may stimulate the release of endorphins, which has been linked to improve nervous and immune system functions, too.

Many people report a “high” from volunteering, similar to the good feelings that come from exercise. Others have found that volunteering can help fight depression. Helping others can help take your mind off your own problems and enable you to see the bigger picture. Once you see the difference you can make in another person's life, your own problems can seem smaller and more manageable.

As more research is showing that people with fewer social contacts have shorter life spans than people with wide social circles, regardless of race, income level or other lifestyle factors. If you are lonely or live in an area far away from friends and family, volunteering is one way to build a social life and improve your emotional and physical health at the same time.

1. Develop new skills.

Gaining skills, knowledge and expertise are common side effects of volunteering. Giving others your time brings you interesting and challenging opportunities that might not come along otherwise. This experience can be added to your resume and could result in a better paying job in the future.

2. Make social connections.

Loneliness and boredom are common among retirees, students, and transplants to a new city. Volunteering can relieve this sense of social isolation and help you fill empty hours in the day.

3. Give back to your community.

Doing something for the community you live in and returning the favor to those who have helped you are strong motivators. Everyone, rich or poor, takes from society, and volunteering is one way to show a sense of appreciation.

4. Develop and grow as a person.

Volunteering is an excellent way to explore your likes and dislikes. If you’re interested in a new career, volunteer in the field first to see if you will actually like it. You may find a totally unrelated field is a much better fit for you, one you’d never consider if you hadn’t volunteered there first.

5. Gain a new perspective.

Life can be hard and when you’re feeling down, your problems can seem insurmountable. Volunteering can offer a new perspective—seeing people who are worse off than you are, yet still hanging in there, can help you see your life in a whole new light.

6. Know that you're needed.

Feeling needed and appreciated are important, and you may not get that appreciation from your paid work or home life where the things you do are expected or taken for granted. When you volunteer, you realize just how much you are truly needed. Meeting people who need your help is a strong incentive to continue—people are depending on you. If you don’t do it, who will?

7. Boost your self-esteem.

Many volunteers experience a sense of increased self-esteem and greater self-worth. Helping others makes you feel good about yourself, because you’re doing something for someone that they couldn’t do for themselves.

Research has shown that the good feelings you experience when helping others may be just as important to your health as exercise and a healthy diet. But it’s the smile from a child or thankful person that shows you’re really making a difference in someone's life. And that’s the greatest feeling in the world.

United Way

Another great foundation to volunteer for would be the United Way Campaign. This organization fights for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in every community. We all have a stake in what befalls our fellow man. We all benefit when a child succeeds in school, when someone finds a job that will help them provide for their family, or when more people are able to access quality, affordable health care. 


The solutions we create for communities around the world go beyond short-term charity for a few. When United Way’s support for Community Schools helps increase the graduation rate in the Vallejo City Unified School District by 11 percent in just three years, it’s not just the students, or even just the families of those students who benefit. Those proud graduates now have a much better chance of landing a job that pays a livable wage, of staying out of trouble with the law, and of living longer, healthier lives — and that translates into a safer, healthier and more prosperous community for everyone.

We rise or fall together. With your support, we are reaching for great new heights.

United Way has so many opportunities to get involved with so many different fundraising events to meet your volunteer interests! Click HERE to go to the United Way site where they list the their sponsored events!


Other Volunteer Opportunities!

Nonprofit Organizations

Are you looking for a list of nonprofit organizations that is organized by interest? Here is a partial list of non-profit organizations categorized according to specific focus areas. While some of the organizations could fall into numerous categories, each organization appears on the list only once and is categorized according to primary area of interest.
 
Advocacy Groups for Human Rights and Civil Liberties
These charities help people fight for their rights, either through legal advocacy or by providing education, awareness, and funding for human rights initiatives.
 
Animal Rights
Animal rights organizations seek to protect animals and their habitats through advocacy, as well as, action-based and educational initiatives.
Land Conservation and the Environment
These charities seek to protect the environment through education and conservation initiatives. Charities in these categories may focus on research, direct action, or political and legal advocacy.
General Emergency Relief
These organizations step in and provide relief during difficult times such as natural disaster and war.
Refugees
These organizations provide support for people forced to flee their homeland due to war, famine, political unrest, disease, and natural disaster.
Medical Assistance
These programs provide medical relief and assistance to people who may not otherwise have access to affordable care for financial, social, or geographical reasons. These organizations may also provide emergency medical relief.
 Education, Research and Cultural Preservation Groups
These groups have specific missions geared towards improving education, providing more educational opportunities, promoting cultural awareness, or preserving the culture of specific populations.
Health: Research, and Education
These health foundations focus on research about specific illnesses. Many also have an educational component to enlighten people about prevention and management strategies.
Support for Chronic Illnesses and Diseases
These organizations provide financial, emotional, or medical support for people with chronic illnesses and their loved ones.
Cancer Support and Research
These cancer charities provide research and support for people with cancer and their loved ones. Support may include education and emotional support.
Support for Physical and Cognitive Disabilities
These charities provide financial support, education, and research for people with physical and mental disabilities, as well as their families.
Poverty
These organizations help the economically disadvantaged around the world with an array of programs such as education, advocacy, health care, housing, and anti-hunger programs.
Feeding the Hungry
These charities fight hunger around the world by providing food, clean water, and funding.
Promoting Self Sufficiency
These charities help people help themselves through education, micro loans, and similar initiatives.
Impoverished Children
These charities help children around the world who live in poverty by providing food, medicine, and education.
Senior Citizens
These charities provide advocacy, education, and research for senior citizens.
Supporting Military and Veterans
These charities provide support services for those who serve our country, as well as their families. Services may include financial assistance, mental health care, and veterans services.
Supporting Fire Fighters and Police
These organizations provide advocacy and support for the civil servants who keep us safe.
Watchdog Groups
These organizations make sure public organizations like the government and the media are operating appropriately and with honesty and integrity.
Children and Youth
These charities support youth in a variety of ways, from providing constructive youth activities to advocating for children's rights.
Women
Women around the world face unique issues such as discrimination, domestic violence, and human trafficking. These charities support various women's initiatives.
 
If you're more interested in helping out and getting the experience to go along with it, I recommend that you check out the 2018 Best Volunteer Abroad Programs, Organizations, & Projects.
 
-- "We’re taking the guesswork out of choosing a great volunteer abroad program. Using our database of 800 international volunteer organizations; 2,500 program reviews; and 10,000 volunteer abroad fundraisers who have collectively raised $2,000,000 for their trips, Volunteer Forever has crunched the numbers to identify our top volunteer abroad opportunities. We also took into consideration the history of each organization to include the number of volunteer alumni and our 5 years of intensive interactions with programs over email, phone, and in-person meetings. Read on for our list of top recommended programs!" --
 
I encourage you to get out there and find something that interests you and give back!
 
 
 
 
Lastly I want to cover a little bit out about what is going on right now. (Believe me, I know that this post is already filled with loads of useful information, but this is important, too.) The hurricane victims of Hurricane Harvey (HH), Hurricane Irma (HI), Hurricane Jose (HJ), and Tropical Storm Katia (TSK), all within the last few months, is quickly creeping up in numbers. There are many organizations that are looking to help in this time of crisis, but one that I'm impartial to is Americares.
 
Their general plan is PREPARE →RESPOND → RECOVER. It breaks it down with different opportunities to help try to avoid the worst of outcomes before these disasters strike. The more they uncover from these tragedies, the more they'll understand what is needed to help these people. I encourage everyone to take a look at these sites to help in every way you can, even if its not monetarily.
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