Tag: volunteer

hunger

Help Fight Against Hunger This Summer

Summer time is the quintessential season for picnics, family reunions, and backyard BBQs, where food is often in abundance. As you fill up on seconds or contemplate that second piece of cake, you may not realize that 1 in 6 people in America face hunger and approximately 49 million Americans struggle to put food on the table. “Food insecurity”, also known as the lack of access to have enough food for all household members, affects millions of households throughout the country, many of which have children.

 

Adequate nutrition is important to maintain the physical and mental health of individuals of every age, but is even more crucial for children who are still in the developmental stages. During the school year, an estimated 22 million children get free or reduced-priced meals through the National School Lunch Program. However, when school is out for the summer, only about 3.9 million receive meals through the USDA Summer Food Service Program.

 

Food is taken for granted, particularly if no one has ever experienced what it’s like to go hungry). Even if you’ve never faced hunger first hand, there are ways to help fight against hunger in your community during the summer months:

Donate to a Local Food Bank

 

Many people make food donations to their local food bank during the “season of giving”, but most food banks accept and rely on food donations year round. Each time you go to the grocery store, stock up on a few extra items to donate. While many food banks will accept whatever they get in donations, it may be a smart idea to see what items they need or would prefer to receive. Some ideas for food donations include non-perishable proteins such as peanut butter, baby items (diapers, food, and formula), healthy snack foods for kids, condiments/spices, and personal hygiene products.

Make a Monetary Donation

 

If you want to do something more than donating actual food, consider making a monetary donation to a summer food program in your area. You can make a one time donation or sign up to be a sponsor throughout the school year.

Utilize Your Green Thumb

 

In many cities throughout the country, there are community gardens, in which the harvested fruits and vegetables are donated to local food banks. If you have a green thumb or even know how to water and pull a few weeds, there’s a good chance that your help will be greatly appreciated. Additionally, if you have excess harvest at your home garden, consider donating to a food bank rather than letting your harvest go to waste.

Volunteer

 

Another good way to fight against hunger in your community is by volunteering. Whether you gather a group of friends together to help prepare a meal at a food kitchen, stock shelves at a food bank, host a food drive, or deliver meals to families with young children or senior citizens, you are actively fighting against hunger in your community.

 

summer volunteers

Get Involved in Your Community This Summer

During the winter months, we are strongly encouraged to get involved in our community and participate in the “season of giving”, however, community involvement is welcomed and needed year round. Although there are a number of summer volunteer abroad programs, there are plenty of opportunities close to home. Whether you have a teenager who needs something to do this summer or you find that you have a little extra time on your hands, the summer season is the perfect time to volunteer and help out others in your community. Want to get started? Here are some ideas:

Garage Sales & Lemonade Stands

 

Summer wouldn’t be the same without a garage sale or a lemonade stand. Not only is it a great way to clean out the house and garage, but your proceeds (or a portion of them) can go to a charity of your choice. Want to boost your sales? Make a some signs that state where the proceeds will go (ie. local animal shelter, food shelf), you may find that many of your shoppers are eager to support you and even offer a monetary donation.

 

Don’t forget to get the kids involved, too. Kids love having lemonade stands, but rather than making it a strictly money making opportunity for them, let them pick a charity of their choice to donate a portion of their proceeds. For example, if your child loves animals, encourage him or her to use money to buy dog and cat food for the local animal shelter.

Get Outdoors

 

Once summer arrives, it’s likely that you’ll want to spend most of your time outdoors. While you’re enjoying the great outdoors, take the opportunity to help out around your community by picking up trash while you’re on a walk, help an elderly or disabled neighbor with yard work, volunteer to pull weeds at a community garden, or beautify your neighborhood with some potted flowers or an inspirational message written in chalk on the sidewalk in front of your house.

Giving Back to the Community

 

During the summertime, there are numerous events happening throughout your community that raise funds or awareness for various organizations. Whether you attend or volunteer at an event, you are giving back to your community. Ways to help out includes, but is not limited to, attending or volunteering at a blood drive, volunteering at sporting events (such as Special Olympics), or join the planning committee for a community event such as a marathon or wellness fair.

 

Ways for Your Teen to Get Involved

 

For many teens, summer is an “idle” time, leaving many parents frustrated. Rather than making your summer vacation a battle between you and your teen, encourage your son or daughter to get involved in the community. Whether he or she chooses to get an internship or joins you when you volunteer, not only will it fill the “boring” hours of the day, but it’s a great way to make connections in the community and it is important information to add to a college application.

Participate in the “Season of Giving”

When the winter holidays roll around, we are asked to “give” and to celebrate the season of giving. We already know it’s beneficial to be charitable, but for millions of Americans, being a philanthropist is not always possible due to their own financial limitations and hard times. Fortunately, there are ways to give and make a difference without spending money. The season of giving is not about the amount of money you contribute, but rather the efforts you make to show you care, that you think of others, and you are trying to make a difference in a sometimes unjust world.

 

Feeling Good in a Season of Obligations

 

Although the “Season of Giving” is meant to be a time of doing good and thinking of others, it has also become another reason to participate in mass consumerism. Unfortunately, a good deed or a  thoughtful gesture has been replaced by a gift card or a material item that may or may not be needed or appreciated. It’s easy to feel pressured and obligated to give during the holidays, even if we can’t afford to or feel like one more material item won’t make a difference in the world.

 

If your family has a tradition of gift giving, suggest putting a limit on of gifts or request that they give towards a charity of your choosing rather than giving you one more kitchen gadget or household item you appreciate, but don’t need in your life. If your family is against straying from tradition, you can still do your part on your own time. Volunteerism is a great way to feel good year round, but particularly in a season of “obligations”. No one expects you to help and they are often grateful of any time you can dedicate.

Teach Children to About Gratitude

 

As grown-ups, most of us realize that materialism can be unnecessary and it’s easier for many of us to ask for nothing. However, children are still at the stage in their lives where toys, books, and other “wants” are important to them. As a parent or relative of a child, it may be difficult to meet all of the requests on a child’s wish list. Some good advice is to choose a few items that will foster a child’s interest, creativity, and growth. Encourage your child to choose an item from a store or even from his or her own toy collection to donate to a child in need. Teaching your child about gratitude and not giving into every want will help him or her grow up to be a more compassionate person; teaching your child to be a better person costs nothing.

Start Giving Early

Remember, you don’t need money to make a difference, but if you feel like you can’t make a real difference without donating money to a cause, start planning early so you don’t feel overwhelmed once the holidays roll around.  For instance, start a small jar of spare change. Once it’s full, donate the amount to a charity of your choice. If you plan on helping out at the local food shelf or serving meals at a homeless shelter, sign up as soon as you can as spots may fill, but there’s a good chance that there will be something to do, wherever you decide to participate in the season of giving.