Community Involvement
So, I've been given the go-ahead from my teacher to base a school project on this blog.... therefore I'll be making a few public posts over the next week, and would really love to get as much feedback as possible
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I sold snacks in a mall for the Kidney Foundation, made deliveries for them and danced at a fund raiser. It seemed to me an easy thing to do, for a few hours each weekend for a few weeks, to contribute to a cause that would be helping to save lives in my community and across the country.
I volunteered at a seniors residence for Alzheimer sufferers with my cat - we would visit and the residents enjoyed having this little warm animal to pet and interact with.
I'm not sure if this is useful, but, you might argue I 'volunteer' my blood for the Canadian Blood Services. Saving up to three people's lives every 56 days is a pretty no-brainer benefit to the community, imho. :)
Recently I actively sought, and found, a not-for-profit organization that works with youths in St. James town, helping them with arts and cultural activities. We have a surplus of binders and protective sheet covers that the centre can use so the kids have a place to keep their stuff. :) It's a one-off thing, sure, but I'm happy to have the opportunity to help them and not have all that material end up in a landfill.
I volunteer my time, whenever the opportunity presents itself, to help people who need assistance cross the street, or give people with maps and confused expressions directions to where they want to go. :) I think this helps foster goodwill amongst the locals, and, gives visitors a favourable impression of Toronto.
I volunteer, each and every day, to recycle and reduce my consumption of energy and other resources like water. I encourage this behaviour in my office too, and when I visit family. I volunteer to collect things like can tabs, so that people who need wheelchairs can get them through charitable organizations. I think little things add up, and that ultimately I am making a difference.
I plan to re-certify myself with First Aid and CPR in the near future, so that when I volunteer myself to assist with emergency situations I am capable to do so. In the meantime I will not hesitate to keep someone company while waiting on an ambulance - it doesn't happen often, but I can list 3 times I've done this, the most recent a few months ago.
I think giving to the community can happen in a lot of ways. Big ways, small ways - it can be your time, your networking, your money (I give regularly to 4 charities that directly serve my community every month, and one-offs like the HST rebate are being donated) - everyone can do SOMETHING, period. The benefits... ? How could you list them all? What value do you put on a kid's face who can proudly take his art home to show his family? Or an animal that can sleep comfortably waiting for the home that will love him? Or keeping our streets clean and beautiful because litter is put in its place? It's a cycle. We get out what we put in.
*Shit, sorry. I'll stop now. I'm actually getting teary eyed, I'm such a nerd.*
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Heh. Today I put some change in the SPCA donation box. Such a small thing, but as a student it's hard to find time, money or energy to do much more!
Thank you for taking the time for such a long response too :D
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