All charitable organizations need volunteers. They are the backbone of an organization. Volunteering for the Foundation comes in the form of making Easter and Thanksgiving baskets, buying Christmas gifts, volunteering for service projects, to name a few.
How does the Foundation do it? Have you wondered HOW the Thanksgiving baskets and Christmas gifts, etc., GET to the organizations needing them? Or how food gets delivered weekly to food pantries (Milton Township and Wayne Township?). It’s volunteers, of course! It goes on behind the scenes and you might never think about this last part of each project, but without volunteers to do the heavy lifting, the Foundation couldn’t do what we do!
WHO HELPS? Each year the HelpDesk quietly and effectively carries and moves Thanksgiving & Easter baskets, Christmas gifts, backpacks and all manner of things for the Foundation. We recognize the men of the HelpDesk and thank them for their tireless support of the Foundation. In Austin, Amy Lum asks a bunch of folks to help when it comes to heavy lifting for each project, and they always hear the call. We thank them as well.
WHO ELSE? The Foundation also thanks One of Our Own, Jim Prince, who with his BIG RED TRUCK and sunny disposition, is always ready to load up his truck and make deliveries for the Foundation. For Christmas of 2024, Jim single-handedly delivered Christmas gifts to a few different organizations (and a family) on behalf of the Foundation. We will miss Jim when he retires!
Special Spaces. Another volunteer opportunity through the Foundation has been several bedroom makeovers for kids undergoing cancer treatments through Special Spaces. Since 2018, we have done rooms for 10 kids, utilizing a different team of volunteers from First Trust (including friends and families). Below are pictures from a custom bedroom build in summer of 2024.
Let’s take a deeper dive into VOLUNTEERISM in America:
In 2023, over a quarter of Americans volunteered formally and over 50% volunteered informally.
“People volunteer both formally and informally – formal volunteering happens via official organizations, while informal volunteering often means neighbors helping neighbors. Formal volunteers support food banks and public health efforts, tutor students, among other efforts. Informal volunteering includes favors like providing free childcare or running errands.” From USA FACTS
AmeriCorps and the U.S. Census Bureau partner every two years to collect and release data on volunteering (formally called the Current Population Survey Civic Engagement and Volunteering Supplement). Here’s some of what they found in their latest survey, taken September 2022 - 2023:
The share of Americans who volunteer through an organization is rebounding (and increased by 5% between 2021 and 2023)
75.7 million people, Americans 16 and older, gave an estimated 5 billion hours of formal volunteering (66 hours per person, or 8.25 business days)
171 million people (16 and older) provided informal help to neighbors
The Survey also charted generations and how they volunteer:
The Foundation knows how many of you volunteer for your churches, kids’ schools, and help your neighbors and organizations like the Foundation. We thank you for all you do!
Can Volunteering Really Prolong Your Life?
According to Psychology Today, “volunteerism was associated with a markedly lower risk of dying. Depending on the study, the decrease in death rates ranged from 20 to 60%. ”The article goes on: “How could volunteering cause a decrease in death? … Multiple studies have provided evidence that volunteering is good for depression, well-being and social network, among other effects.” … “Second, people who volunteer regularly also make more effort to take of themselves.” … “Finally, people who volunteer may be more physically active.” In other words, “Volunteering likely exerts its positive effects on health by connecting people to others as well as to an activity that they find meaningful…achieving connection, purpose and meaning…”
The U.S. Surgeon General said (in early January 2025) that in order to treat the "widespread pain and unhappiness" that has left the country "deeply unwell", his "parting prescription" is to cultivate a strong sense of community. "Community is a powerful source of life satisfaction and left expectancy. It's where we know each other, help each other and find purpose in contributing to each other's lives." Also: "Individual purpose, anchored in helping others, can strengthen physical and mental health .... A high sense of individual purpose may reduce the risk of early death as well as stroke, lung disease and dementia for some. Research also shows that people with a strong sense of purpose may experience lower levels of depression and anxiety and greater resilience in the face of stress."
PLEASE VOLUNTEER WITH THE FOUNDATION WHEN THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY! PLUS....SEE THESE IDEAS:
The Service Projects tab on this website
The Food Pantry tab, also on this site
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