April is National Volunteer Month; formed to thank all the volunteers in our communities and encourage volunteerism throughout the month. It’s important to give back on an individual level and to recognize others who volunteer their time. And the real givers are those who tirelessly volunteer their time and talent throughout the entire year.
In addition to the benefits to our local communities, studies show individuals who volunteer enjoy physical and psychological benefits, including increased satisfaction, improved sense of belonging, lower blood pressure, greater protection from Alzheimer's, and decreased mortality rates.
Depending on your lifestyle, physical health, and other responsibilities, you may have ample time to volunteer each day – or you may only have a few hours a week, or less. Do what you can! Don’t pressure yourself if your family and work responsibilities are demanding this month. If it’s an exceptionally busy month, wait until May. The key is always to try to incorporate some volunteer time when you can. Be conscious of the amount of time you can afford each month and adjust as needed. Most non-profit organization have needs that are recurring as well as individual projects that require a few hours of your times, and many agencies are very willing to accommodate your schedule.
One of the greatest aspects of volunteerism is there are so many options. Sometimes, we volunteer without even recognizing it. For instance, do you help your neighbor with gardening or donate time at the day care, church or a youth group sport? If you answer yes, you are already volunteering – thank you!
The good news is - not only has the amount of volunteerism increased, but the impact of volunteerism is growing. Many companies encourage their employees to engage in meaningful volunteer activities; long-term, skills-based volunteerism is becoming more popular. There are some excellent corporate programs out there that encourage employees to volunteer, in fact, some companies pay their employees for the time they work with a charitable organization. More commonly, organizations will match any funds raised for a designated organization. Check with your company to see what programs may be available for you.
Take the initiative to organize a group volunteer event with your co-workers, friends, neighbors, or family. Working in groups can be a lot of fun in addition to all the benefits previously mentioned. Instill the values of volunteering in the children closest to you. Beginning a regular practice of volunteering at a young age will build a foundation for a life filled with generosity and compassion. You can be the initiator of such habits. So, call the kids and the grandkids and brainstorm on an activity you can all do together that supports a cause in which you care. The feeling of satisfaction will be well worth your efforts.
The best place to start is a cause close to your heart. If you want to help but aren't sure where to go or how to get involved, there are several resources online you can review. There are even activities you can do right from your home!
This blog brought to you by the Team at Meliora! Let us explore a wellness 'plan of action' that’s right for your company; we will assist with each step of building the concept to implementation; we work hands-on to find solutions to the following questions:
Why do we need a wellness plan?
How ‘well’ is our employee population?
How do we increase employee engagement?
Have we asked our employees for their input?
How were healthcare cost affected by our employee's health issues last year?
What were our overall absenteeism rates? And, how did this affect productivity?
Put our imagination, passion, innovation and creation to work for your company today - Call Bill Johnston at 817-546-2953 or via email at wjohnston@melioratech.com
We Help You Engage Your Employees - Meliora - In Pursuit of Better
In addition to the benefits to our local communities, studies show individuals who volunteer enjoy physical and psychological benefits, including increased satisfaction, improved sense of belonging, lower blood pressure, greater protection from Alzheimer's, and decreased mortality rates.
Depending on your lifestyle, physical health, and other responsibilities, you may have ample time to volunteer each day – or you may only have a few hours a week, or less. Do what you can! Don’t pressure yourself if your family and work responsibilities are demanding this month. If it’s an exceptionally busy month, wait until May. The key is always to try to incorporate some volunteer time when you can. Be conscious of the amount of time you can afford each month and adjust as needed. Most non-profit organization have needs that are recurring as well as individual projects that require a few hours of your times, and many agencies are very willing to accommodate your schedule.
One of the greatest aspects of volunteerism is there are so many options. Sometimes, we volunteer without even recognizing it. For instance, do you help your neighbor with gardening or donate time at the day care, church or a youth group sport? If you answer yes, you are already volunteering – thank you!
The good news is - not only has the amount of volunteerism increased, but the impact of volunteerism is growing. Many companies encourage their employees to engage in meaningful volunteer activities; long-term, skills-based volunteerism is becoming more popular. There are some excellent corporate programs out there that encourage employees to volunteer, in fact, some companies pay their employees for the time they work with a charitable organization. More commonly, organizations will match any funds raised for a designated organization. Check with your company to see what programs may be available for you.
Take the initiative to organize a group volunteer event with your co-workers, friends, neighbors, or family. Working in groups can be a lot of fun in addition to all the benefits previously mentioned. Instill the values of volunteering in the children closest to you. Beginning a regular practice of volunteering at a young age will build a foundation for a life filled with generosity and compassion. You can be the initiator of such habits. So, call the kids and the grandkids and brainstorm on an activity you can all do together that supports a cause in which you care. The feeling of satisfaction will be well worth your efforts.
The best place to start is a cause close to your heart. If you want to help but aren't sure where to go or how to get involved, there are several resources online you can review. There are even activities you can do right from your home!
This blog brought to you by the Team at Meliora! Let us explore a wellness 'plan of action' that’s right for your company; we will assist with each step of building the concept to implementation; we work hands-on to find solutions to the following questions:
Why do we need a wellness plan?
How ‘well’ is our employee population?
How do we increase employee engagement?
Have we asked our employees for their input?
How were healthcare cost affected by our employee's health issues last year?
What were our overall absenteeism rates? And, how did this affect productivity?
Put our imagination, passion, innovation and creation to work for your company today - Call Bill Johnston at 817-546-2953 or via email at wjohnston@melioratech.com
We Help You Engage Your Employees - Meliora - In Pursuit of Better
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