While I have been trying to discover the things that make me happy and naturally feel good, acts of service surface. I didn’t always have a love for volunteering. It honestly was something I just did if needed for a school assignment or something similar. It wasn’t until after I worked for the YMCA did my view of volunteering shift in a positive way.
My “Fun Company” experience helped me to understand that we are all connected. Our interactions with one another can help build or crumple the next. I’ve made a commitment to help build as many as a can even in the smallest way so I get out and I volunteer my time to causes I support.
One cause isn’t necessarily more important than another, but I like to pick a few that resonate with me on a personal level. Those causes usually involve children in some way. Although I don’t have any children of my own yet, I love children and have a million nieces and nephews that I adore so anything from literacy + hunger to creative expression + encouraging physical activity gets my attention.
One of my favorite places to volunteer is with United Way of Middle Tennessee. I enjoy working with UW because there are several different ways I can help people in the community. A few years ago, I decided to work with their VITA Tax Program- where I went to certain locations throughout the city + did taxes for families that make less than $50,000 free of charge.
On several other occasions, I have participated in their children literacy program by going to read at preschools. I have also helped clean + improve a local community center and prepared Thanksgiving meals for families in need through their community give back programs. Because of the different options of things to donate time to, UW is definitely a great nonprofit to partner with.
BBBS is another place I have decided to volunteer this past year. Being a mentor is something I never saw myself as so it’s cool to go through the whole experience from start to finish and evaluate the process (Read more about my BBBS experience here). I have enjoyed mentoring so much I have decided to join TNAchieves in the spring to assist 5-10 high school students prepare for college. The help includes things as far as college apps, FAFSA deadlines and all things related to transitioning from high school to college.
I’ve realized none of the commitments I’ve made to volunteer have taken more than 3 hours of my time per volunteer session and those sessions are usually months apart. That gives me more time to volunteer for other causes throughout the year and not be tied down to only one or two.
There’s tons of nonprofits that could use some support + assistance with the causes they are fighting for. I usually go with places I’m already familiar with, see asking for help, or I check out on Hands On Nashville*.
I’m considering reading some books + magazines for the Talking Library to catalog for the blind community or photograph some art for the Healing Arts Project, Inc. to start off 2020. Hope to help more individuals shine their light and be their best going forward.
Visit https://www.hon.org to see what opportunities are posted, sign up + show up for something. You’ll thank yourself later!
* Hands On Nashville is a website that allows nonprofits to post opportunities for volunteers.
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