One of the first things we spoke about when first dating my (now) husband, was about our personal interests outside of family and our career. Without a second thought, I mentioned to him my volunteer activities with a couple of non-profit organizations that focused on helping at-risk and abused children in Los Angeles.
"So...you spend your free time playing with kids that aren't yours...?" He asked, somewhat amused.
Having a larger than life attitude about anything I am passionate about, I corrected him by stating that "my time makes a difference in the lives of children that need it the most....you should try it sometime."
I followed-up by explaining that I also volunteered at events that raised funds to help children, that I offered pro-bono consulting services to help both organizations and that if he "wanted to be in my life, he had to join in."
I waited to see his disinterest and a possible sign that the man standing in front of me wouldn't last more than a couple of dates after that evening. What I saw, instead, was a glimmer in his eyes and genuine interest in helping others.
From that day on, we both starting volunteering at non-profit events to raise funds for organization that we both connected with.
I now realize that whether or not my hubby had an interest in being involved with the non-profit organizations I had a connection with, he had it in his heart to be of service.
Many of us have a place in our heart to help others. To make a difference. We hope that that somehow, someway, our contributions will help change the world.
We can change the world.
Whether you volunteer a few hours a week to help children in need, volunteer at a soup kitchen to serve food to the hungry, or sign-up for a fundraising drive, all of us can do something to help those in need.
Community Action Toolkit
But, what if you have an idea to help others in a way that hasn't been done before? Just today, a friend mentioned the need to have a free clinic for homeless youth in her community. Thankfully there's a Community Action Toolkit that was created by Take Part, which includes information on ways to get involved in the issues that matter to you. The Toolkit lists the best resources on the web that exist to drive community engagement and action - no matter what issue someone is facing!
Whether you want to start a free clinic, like my friend does, or something completely different, this toolkit will empower you to take steps in the right direction to create change in your own community.
Together we can make a difference!