Giving Thanks – Giving Back. That’s a good mantra for this or any time of year.
While giving financial contributions to causes that are close to your heart is always valued, sharing your time and talents has special benefits, both for the recipients of your service and for you.
Health experts at Mayo Clinic report that people who volunteer experience significant physical and mental health benefits as compared to those who do not volunteer their time.
From lowering stress to boosting self-confidence, volunteers often experience positive feelings referred to as helper’s high, increased trust in others and increased social interaction that leads to improved mental and physical health.
While research has shown that volunteering leads to lower rates of depression, especially for individuals 65 and older, even elementary age children can benefit. Volunteering can provide youth with a sense of control, contribution and connection in a time when so much feels disconnected and out of their control.
This year, many family traditions of volunteering at a soup kitchen over the holidays and other in-person volunteerism will likely have to be on hold or look very different.
Here are some ways you and your family can volunteer even with COVID precautions in place.
- Make care kits for your local animal shelter. Call to find out what is most needed and make ‘doggie care kits’ or ‘kitten care kits’ based on the shelter’s highest need. Your local humane society or animal rescue service will be happy to provide more information about their needs.
- Sign up to be a Friendly Caller through the Area Agency on Aging to check in on local older adults who are isolated and in need of a friendly person to talk to. Volunteers make weekly calls to check in and chat with one or more seniors. You’ll brighten someone’s day, and your own! Call Pat at 269-983-0177 to find out more.
- Lend your newly learned Zoom skills to benefit others! Volunteer to be a Zoom Host through the Campus for Creative Aging. Volunteers are needed to ‘host’ classes while other volunteers teach online classes for older adults. You’ll help seniors have access to online programing without leaving your home. Call Amy at 269-982-7748 for more details.
- Create a ‘food basket’ with your kids online by shopping for their favorite shelf-stable foods and have the items shipped directly to your local food pantry. Be sure to call the food pantry to learn where to ship the items and if they have special requests or requirements.
- Create an ‘activity basket’ for a local senior. Purchase items like large print crossword and word search books and puzzles with semi-large pieces and have them shipped directly to nursing home, assisted living facility or an older adult in your neighborhood. Don’t worry that the items don’t come in fancy packages. Simply knowing someone in the community cared enough to spend the time picking out and shipping items that might bring them joy will overshadow any glitz and glamor that might be missing by not being able to personally wrap the items.
- The same can be done for your local homeless shelter. Shop online with your family for personal care and pampering items and have them shipped directly to the shelter. You may not get the face-to-face experience, but the impact of your gift will be felt by many. You included. For greatest impact, call shelter staff to learn what would be most beneficial to residents.
Need more ideas? Local non-profits post volunteer opportunities at volunteer.uwsm.org. You’ll find ways to volunteer as a virtual tutor for kids, participate in holiday food distribution, help maintain a local outdoor fitness course, be a remote Military Hero Care Network volunteer, help children in foster care and more.