Ruach Tova on Making Our Shared World a Better Place
For decades, Ruach Tova, an organization in Israel, has been connecting people who are interested in volunteering in Israel to nonprofit organizations across the country.
Their services aren’t just offered to Israeli citizens. Ruach Tova connects others to volunteer opportunities including people studying or touring and families traveling vacation, whether they’re staying for a year or visiting the country for just a few weeks.
For the last seven years, the nonprofit has been a Points of Light Global Network affiliate, partnering with Points of Light after recognizing their alignment with our mission. Through Points of Light, Ruach Tova is able to thrive upon access to a global network of like-minded organizations.
They believe that everyone has the power to do good, which is why the organization specializes in connecting individuals and groups to causes and organizations they’re passionate about, in order to help them to make a difference in the world.
, they unite the country across all sectors to do good. Over 3 million people take part in this initiative annually!
Ruach Tova champions volunteerism for a variety of reasons, from
building social connections based on shared values to learning new skills and boosting your career to enhancing your physical and mental health.
Shares Hannah Wojno, Director of Ruach Tova’s International Good Deeds Day, “We’re firm believers in giving to one’s community and actively contributing to making our shared world a better place. Instead of ‘giving back’ we see it simply as ‘giving’ to build out a united vision of the future.”
, noting that our choices matter and have the power to positively influence society. She encourages people to think about where you buy their clothing and products, and consider the values of the companies themselves. She also encourages everyone to find other ways to civically engage and create the change you want to see in your own backyard.
“Contribute through voting, being part of local forums and volunteering your time to causes you care about,” she says.
Points of Light applauds Ruach Tova for their impactful work to spread good across Israel and throughout our shared world.
Ruach Tova is a Points of Light Global Network affiliate. This Global Volunteer Month, watch for live streams on the
is at the halfway point, and Points of Light is thrilled to recognize some of our corporate sponsors who are doing incredible things to mobilize around this landmark event to promote greater civic engagement.
, Phillips 66’s employee volunteerism program, inspires employees to connect with their neighbors by sharing compassion, talents and hard work to improve communities. As the Lead Sponsor of Global Volunteer Month, Phillips 66 aligns its interest in supporting the community with a broader initiative designed to shine the light on the power of people to impact some of society’s greatest challenges.
leverages technology to help individuals, corporations and communities improve their well-being and performance. Leading into Global Volunteer Month and in partnership with Points of Light, Thrive Global launched the
hub on their website dedicated to sharing stories and videos from social impact leaders through personal narratives, tips, expertise and the latest science on how changemakers can prioritize their own well-being even as they work to improve the lives of others.
ADDITIONAL Corporate Partners
A number of Points of Light’s partners also designate the month of April as their Global Month of Service and galvanize their employees by promoting the importance of volunteering and creating opportunities for impact through acts of service. Among them are longtime partners UPS, Bank of America and Starbucks.
committed to planting 50 million trees by 2030 in an effort to have a measurable impact on the environment while giving special attention to improving air quality and fostering healthier outcomes in city environments. This sustained initiative aligns with the celebration and recognition of Earth Day each April. The UPS Foundation is a supporting sponsor of Points of Light.
leverages the month of April to further unite the company behind the concept of giving back, celebrating their passion for community during “Global Service Month.” During this time, they plan special volunteer activities and recognize the spectacular work that team members do throughout the year.
, one day or one week didn’t allow enough time for hundreds of thousands of Starbucks employees to participate in community service projects. Instead, throughout April, the company celebrates these partners’ daily commitment to improving their local neighborhoods by shining a light on service for 30 consecutive days. During the month, partners around the world lead service projects and invite other partners, customers and community members to volunteer with them.
Points of Light knows our corporate partners are extraordinary when it comes to corporate social responsibility. We are proud of the way these corporations are using their resources to promote employee civic engagement and support the volunteer efforts of their workforces. They are a integral part of what will unfold across the world this year during Global Volunteer Month!
Daily Point of Light Awardees Respond to Crisis in Ukraine
During times of uncertainty, one thing we can count on is the power of people to change the world. We are a community of millions of points of light joined together by a shared belief that we can make a positive difference. During the Ukraine crisis, our Points of Light Global Network leaders are on the ground throughout the neighboring regions, helping to connect families and care for refugees.
Across the world, many individuals are also using their time and resources to help response and recovery efforts. Changemakers from our Inspiration Honor Roll and Daily Point of Light Award told us some of the ways they are supporting Ukraine right now. We’re excited to share some of them with you.
Stephanie Wang is working as a paid medical research and development intern for Kyiv-based technology company. She has decided to donate a portion of her internship stipend to the response efforts in Ukraine.
A native of Maine, Mikell Reed Carroll is currently working at the US Embassy in Serbia. She is coordinating a donation drive within the US Embassy community, collecting thousands of dollars in medical supplies, food, baby supplies, batteries and other much needed items. All the collected items will be delivered to the Embassy of Ukraine in Serbia, and then delivered to Ukraine, along with some of the European refugee centers.
These are just a few of the many stories of individuals around the globe responding to the crisis in the Ukraine. Time and again, we are shown that there are points of light in every area of the globe. Collectively, we’re shining a light by taking action to find solutions to the challenges we face today and in the future.
Do you know someone who is a driving force in your community? We invite you to recognize their incredible efforts by nominating them for our
to Points of Light, you are supporting the actions of millions of people who are mobilizing to solve the challenges our society faces through volunteerism and civic engagement. Through our recognition programs, like Inspiration Honor Roll and the Daily Point of Light Award, we bring to life what is possible, inspiring future generations of civic leaders and changemakers.
Volunteering Is a Constant in Both Ordinary and Extraordinary Times
As we celebrate Global Volunteer Month, we’re celebrating the power of people. In recent years, the backdrop on which this month has taken place has presented some of the most challenging times in our history. This year, we’re facing the COVID-19 pandemic, a call for social justice and now the spotlight on the war in Ukraine.
Yet in the worst of times, we also see the best in humanity. We see it through volunteers. Chefs from around the world racing to Ukraine’s borders to cook. Teachers, as refugees themselves, conducting classes in bomb shelters. Polish mothers leaving strollers on train station platforms for arriving Ukrainian families. People opening up their homes to strangers, and to their pets too! And aid donations – measured in literal tons – coming in from around the planet.
Feeding, educating, supporting, welcoming and donating. In extraordinary times and in ordinary times, we can see the best of people. We can see the power of people and the strength of our communities.
It brings me great hope to see this kind of engagement in times of crisis. But it also brings me hope to know this work happens all the time, in countries in every corner of the world, no matter the circumstances. And at Points of Light, we see them every day.
We see it in Carl Wheeler. The 87-year-old former math teacher is spending his retirement tutoring students at Kapiolani Community College in Honolulu. He also volunteers at his local library, recording books and other materials for his housebound neighbors.
We see it in June Wang. This California teenager created a 360-person volunteer network aimed at tacking inequity in health care. So far, the group has impacted more than 100,000 individuals and raised thousands of dollars to support mental health and other health-related causes.
We see it in Hassan Al Khawam. As a teenager, he fled Syria for Northern Ireland. Today, he helps other refugees, welcoming them to the country with clinics on how to find housing and employment, offering translation services and helping them meet members of the community.
As these stories illustrate, the best in humanity is all around us.
Points of Light’s recently-released global civic engagement research looked at civic engagement in four countries: the United States, the United Kingdom, Brazil and India. Across all four nations, volunteering, using your voice and listening and learning were cited as among the most important activities.
And it makes sense. We all want to contribute to a vibrant society where people have agency, promote democracy and participate in the world around them. Global Volunteer Month is about our collective participation and celebrating its importance.
This Global Volunteer Month, how will you celebrate volunteers – or better yet – volunteer to help those around you? The need is constant and opportunities exist everywhere. And whether your idea is large or small, know that every action matters, and no act is too small to make a difference.
You have the power to have an impact, and the impact is your power.
6 Ways to Activate Points of Light’s Civic Circle Around Ukraine Relief
As Ukrainian refugees evacuate their homeland and begin to build new lives in new countries, you can support them. We’ve gathered a collection of ways for you to activate
Cash donations offer flexibility for organizations to respond in real time to people’s developing needs. Do your research first so you can be sure that the organization you plan to support is legitimate. Points of Light has established the
is happening all April long. Now is a great time to register to volunteer, but please do not self-deploy. There is limited access around humanitarian relief efforts right now. Working in the aftermath can be both dangerous and complex. It’s safest to wait until the impacted community has requested support, then coordinate with a vetted organization. Find a
, where we share updates and valuable information from our affiliates and other organizations about ways to support Ukraine. You can also follow first responders that are taking action to learn about the most pressing needs. Be intentional to watch media that cover both conservative and liberal views.
Through signing a petition, creating artwork with a statement or even staying silent, you can make your voice heard. And of course, you can share on your own social media network to raise awareness about long-term recovery needs. Just be careful to choose trustworthy sources to ensure you’re spreading accurate information. Check out our issue of
Your dollars can have an impact. You can choose to do business with companies supporting relief efforts in and around Ukraine with proceeds from your purchases. Participate in your own
by searching for companies that are selling products and services that you need. Some companies that are doing this work include Epic Games, maker of the popular video game, Fortnite. The company is giving away all proceeds from the game through April 3. Video game console maker Xbox has joined their effort by donating their net proceeds as well. Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation launched the ‘Meta History: Museum of War’ collection, a series of NFTs that support the war effort in Ukraine. Grammarly, an English language app, is donating $5 million to organizations and funds supporting the people of Ukraine.
There is a growing movement in the corporate sector toward “doing well by doing good,” This ideal could look like giving to humanitarian relief efforts through employee matching, which not only supports the cause but amplifies employee donations. Find out if your company is supporting Ukraine through donations and matching or other means.
Some companies that are doing this type of work include:
Bank of America, which pledged to donate $1 million to the people of Ukraine via five groups: the Red Cross and Red Crescent network in Ukraine and the region, World Central Kitchen, Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere, International Medical Corps and Project Hope. The bank also said it would match employee donations to support the relief effort.
KPMG Chair and CEO, Paul Knopp, shared via Twitter, “At KPMG we stand with and support the people of Ukraine, condemning violent attacks by the Russian givernment [sic]. Today, KPMG is making an initial $250,000 donation to GlobalGiving’s Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund and encouraging our partners and professionals to donate as well.”
Whether you activate all six elements of the Civic Circle or choose just one, you’re exercising your civic power. Which will you choose? Tag us on
Points of Light operates with a network of innovative volunteer-mobilizing organizations who serve more than 177 affiliates across 38 countries around the world. Together we are inspiring, equipping and mobilizing more people to use their time, talent, voice and resources to create positive change in their communities. Learn more about our Global Network.
Creating Connection With Spark the Change Colorado and Samen voor Eindoven
A global movement for good requires the power of volunteerism, service and civic engagement. And that’s exactly what Points of Light Global Network affiliate
is on a mission to do: spark change and inspire a movement of good, leading to a world with stronger, more resilient, equitable and connected communities through the power of volunteerism.
Spark the Change provides direct services and volunteer programs, as well as resources, training and support for organizations and community leaders. Kelly Groen, director of Spark the Change’s Mental Wellness Program, talked to us about their unique mental health initiative.
Spark the Change Colorado volunteers put in the work needed to convert the Denver Coliseum into a women’s shelter at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our mission for the Mental Wellness Program is to connect licensed and insured mental health professionals who volunteer their time and expertise to low-income Coloradans in need of counseling,” she said. “First, we connect volunteer private practitioners to pro bono clients through our private practice referral line. Second, we operate a host site model, where we place a volunteer professional at an established host site, such as a school, shelter or nonprofit, to provide mental health support to clients and staff at the site.”
Most often, barriers to mental health are financial or related to accessibility within traditional avenues. Spark the Change’s clients are often unable to afford treatment due to being uninsured or being unable to afford deductibles or copays. Many clients are also unable to find an appropriate or available clinician through other avenues of care.
“Through our host site model, we’re also able to lend support to the clients being served by other leaders of service in our communities,” says Kelly. “We form partnerships with schools, shelters and service nonprofits across the state, working in tandem to find a volunteer who can meet the unique needs of their population. Volunteers are placed within these organizations free of charge, to better support the mental health needs of clients and staff. We provide services to individuals, couples, families and groups, and our volunteers serve clients of all ages.”
From helping with issues like anxiety and depression to stress management, grief, loss, family issues and coping with life changes, Spark the Change’s Mental Wellness Program is making mental health a priority — in a time when these types of issues are front and center.
Spark the Change Colorado partners with Harvest Pack to provide days of service, packing hundreds of meals for those in need. Events have been transformed to accommodate social distancing, PPE and all health and safety protocols so volunteers can feel safe while giving back.
in Eindhoven, Netherlands, is the bridge between companies, social organizations and the local government to work toward a more cohesive and inclusive society. Samen voor Eindoven means “Together for Eindhoven” and the organization works to design and implement corporate volunteer programs.
“Corporate volunteers embrace our values and are committed to making a vital contribution to our local community. By using their professional skills and talents for community organizations, corporate volunteers themselves experience more meaning and job satisfaction,” says Esther Hofstede, founder and director of Samen voor Eindoven.
Through the use of smart technology, Samen voor Eindoven is able to mobilize corporate volunteers through a digital platform, maximizing efficiency, impact and flexibility. Social volunteers can enroll in recurring calendar programs and skill-based programs.
Corporate volunteers engage with initiatives like donating “wishtrees” to almost all 23 nursing homes in Eindhoven, creating a website for Eindhoven residents with foreign roots, making video calls to people who are currently unable to go outside and publishing a “feel good newsletter” with only positive news, sent to elderly residents of nursing homes.
More than 10,000 vulnerable people in Eindhoven were provided with vitamin A during the pandemic, which included providing company over a socially distanced meal.
“It turns out that when you really put corporate volunteers in touch with groups in need, there is more understanding and the gap between the groups is reduced,” Esther says. She encourages increased corporate volunteering, which she calls “a win-win: impact for the beneficiaries and volunteers, substance for the Corporate Social Responsibility policy of companies, and a more attractive workplace for involved employees.”
Kelly Groen at Spark the Change Colorado encourages volunteers to get involved: “While there are countless ways to make an impact, including mindful recognition of your individual purchase power and using your voice and vote to make a difference, volunteerism will always be a necessary cornerstone of civic engagement. There are a multitude of benefits to volunteerism, both to the community being served and the individual serving. There is no comparison to the feeling you get from giving your time and talents to improve the lives of other members in your community.”
Special Olympics Florida, with the Support of Volunteers, Offers Sports and Socialization Opportunities for Children and Adults with Intellectual Disabilities
With more than 21 million residents, the state of Florida is the third most populous in the nation. It’s also one of the most diverse states, with large proportions of indigenous people, Asian, Black, Hispanic and European residents.
Special Olympics Florida is making sure that inclusion and opportunities extend to another group of Floridians – a group that spans all ethnic groups – those with intellectual disabilities. Those efforts continued through the past year’s coronavirus pandemic, when Special Olympics Florida launched a health and wellness program that reached participants virtually.
Special Olympics Florida serves close to 60,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities, who are given the opportunity to play and compete in various sports, from baseball, basketball, swimming and flag football to bocce, bowling, skiing, speed skating and even surfing.
Because participants have special needs, Special Olympics works hard to provide plentiful coaches and others who teach, cheer and support the athletes to ensure their success.
That’s where dedicated volunteers make all the difference.
Michael and Nancy Howard, coaches with Special Olympics Florida, accompanied Frankie Jaruszewski to the Special Olympics National Games in Seattle in 2018, where he won a gold medal in bowling.
Nancy and Michael Howard, who live in Palm Beach County, have volunteered their time as Special Olympics coaches for 12 years, and they don’t plan to stop anytime soon. Unlike many coaches, the Howards are not the parents of a Special Olympics athlete. Nancy is a special education teacher at a school that decided to create a Special Olympics team. “Team Howard” participates in bowling, basketball, track, surfing, softball and has started open-water swimming.
Michael, a recently retired inspector for Palm Beach County, has been volunteering alongside his wife.
“If you spend about 15 minutes with these kids, you’re hooked, and that’s what happened to me,” says Michael. “It’s a lot of work, but when you see these kids’ faces, it’s worth it.”
The work is considerable. The Howards arrange and run all practices. If athletes don’t have a ride, they pick them up and take them home afterward. If they lack the proper clothing or equipment, the couple finds a way to provide them. The Howards also strive to schedule extra time for the athletes to socialize with one another, as well as time for their parents to socialize.
The couple even travels, at their own expense, to out-of-town regional, state and even national competitions, a gesture that means everything to athletes whose own parents cannot attend.
Nancy agrees that the volunteer work is gratifying. “Maybe an athlete couldn’t dribble last year, but this year, they can dribble and maybe even make a basket or two. It’s not about the sport in most cases; it’s about the relationships they build with one another,” she said. “It also gives the parents some respite – they know their children are taken care of by us.”
Although the COVID-19 pandemic added even more tasks, such as taking temperatures and extra measures to ensure social distancing at both indoor and outdoor activities, the Howards took it in stride.
“We can’t imagine not doing this,” said Nancy, “People talk about moving away when they retire – we can’t. If we left, these kids would lose out on their Special Olympics team, because I don’t know who would step up to take our place.”
Logan Alvarez, on the other hand, is a volunteer at the very beginning of his adult life and career.
Logan is just 18, but he’s been volunteering with Special Olympics Florida in Miami-Dade County since he was only 7.
“My mom is a teacher and she coached a Special Olympics team,” says Logan. “I would attend state games and local games and I would hand out lunches and help in any way I could. When I got to high school, I trained as a Unified Special Olympics team, where athletes with and without disabilities play on teams together. Logan also helped host basketball and softball skills training events for Special Olympics participants.
“I believe that the world needs a lot more inclusion,” says Logan, who is now a freshman at Florida International University, studying political science and pre-law. “I want to become an ambassador for Special Olympics.”
Logan Alvarez (center, with foot on soccer ball) poses with triumphant Special Olympics soccer players in fall 2019, after Miami Southridge Senior High School was named an ESPN Top 5 Unified National Banner School.
Logan, who is not disabled, and in fact was a stand-out high school football player and class president, is highly aware of how difficult acceptance can be for those who with special needs. It’s what makes him passionate about what he calls the “race for inclusion.”
“Just seeing how happy the (Special Olympics) athletes get and seeing them being included is worth everything to me,” says Logan. “In society, you see how left out they are.”
COVID-19 prompts new programs
Special Olympics Florida stepped up throughout the state after the COVID-19 pandemic forced in-person sports programs to be temporarily suspended by hosting multiple virtual programs that encouraged athletes to remain healthy and fit.
At least eight separate programs succeeded in conducting more than 4,900 virtual screenings across all Healthy Athletes disciplines, according to Jim Stratton, communications director for Special Olympics Florida.
For example, a series of videos called “Fit 5 Like a Pro” features both Special Olympics and professional athletes, who encourage viewers to exercise five times per week, eat five fruits and vegetables daily, and drink five glasses of water a day.
“We piloted a virtual screening program for Special Olympics International, using Zoom to connect athletes with medical professionals who answered questions and discussed any health concerns the athlete had,” said Stratton. “We used social media and Zoom to conduct weekly emotional wellness sessions, organize fitness challenges, offer nutrition tips, share healthy recipes, and play games. The sessions provided valuable information but, just as importantly, helped our athletes and their families feel connected during a time when many were limiting their social contacts.”
Service Enterprise Program Equips Volunteer Leaders throughout COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic created unknowns for individuals and organizations around the globe. Early on, the realization that human connection was essential became widespread, and organization leaders began to reimagine what volunteer service looked like in a global crisis.
Mark Storrey, chief executive officer of the Haven Humane Society in Redding, California, has been with the animal shelter for eight years. After 20 years in the Air Force, Storrey transitioned to helping animals find their forever homes with his family and four dogs.
The Haven Humane society has past experience in adapting to crisis, like the California Carr Fire. In times of crises, it’s rewarding to be able to help the community because it’s like an extended family, Mark said.
The shelter shut down when the COVID-19 pandemic began — but when it shelters more than 300 animals, people can’t just walk away.
It operated with a skeleton crew and a limited number of volunteers. Staff began to post photos and videos of the animals on their volunteer Facebook page to keep volunteers engaged — and the response was overwhelmingly positive.
“I think it really brought us together, even though we were apart, and it kept volunteers invested. As soon as we opened back up, it was like the volunteer floodgates lifted,” Storrey said.
More than two thousand miles across the U.S., United Way of East Central Iowa continued to unite the caring power of communities to invest in effective solutions that improve people’s lives — even in the middle of a pandemic.
Kayla Paulson serves as a retired and senior volunteer program director and volunteer engagement capacity builder at UWECI.
“The organization is really about helping people help people — we are that connector and that force that can help mobilize and deploy people,” Paulson said.
UWECI acted as an emergency volunteer center in the pandemic and let volunteers step in and step up where they were uniquely qualified. It partnered with Iowa Habitat for Humanity and leveraged their AmeriCorps members for disaster response efforts.
Both organizations are a part of the Points of Light Service Enterprise program, which is designed to help organizations leverage volunteers to achieve maximum operational efficiency and greater social impact. Due to the skills gained in becoming a certified Service Enterprise, a stronger foundation was in place for the transition needed to keep volunteers safe and engaged during the pandemic.
“Through the training we received from Points of Light, I think we made a lot of really positive changes,” Storrey said. “We’ve laid the groundwork to grow, and once we can actually socialize again, I think we’ll be able to start realizing even more potential,” he added.
Storrey expected to learn about recruiting and engaging volunteers during the program, but was pleasantly surprised to realize additional deficiencies and training opportunities. Shortly after, the Haven Humane staff started to make training videos for volunteers and future staff onboarding.
“I think that it really highlighted that we can take skills-based volunteers and we can really work with them by integrating them into the org chart and getting them more involved in the organization as a whole. I think it’s made us a much stronger team,” Storrey said.
“I want to thank Points of lIght for having the program. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it exceeded all my expectations and I think that our organization is a better organization because of it,” he added.
Volunteers have a variety of opportunities to get involved at the Haven Humane Society. From dog walking, cat socializing, assisting with the veterinary hospital and fundraising, volunteers are critical to the shelter, Storrey said, even the volunteers who show up and are allergic to the animals.
UWECI is a Service Enterprise Hub — an important partner in Points of Light’s capacity-building efforts — and helped other organizations in Iowa get certified and recertified as a Service Enterprise during the pandemic.
Due to UWECI’s leadership and hard work, other nonprofits like the Catherine McAuley Center — a shelter that provides supportive and educational services to immigrants, refugees and women in Iowa — had the volunteer infrastructure and network needed to adapt when food pantries shut down.
“If they didn’t already have those pieces in place, and they didn’t already invest the time and staff training, they wouldn’t have been able to switch and quickly adapt,” Paulson said.
“I really love being able to watch our volunteers be the best version of themselves,” Paulson said. “So whether it’s the Service Enterprise and building the capacity of our nonprofits to better leverage volunteers or being able to respond as we continue to have disasters — I want to help my volunteers see that they have transferable skills that they have built up over a lifetime,” she added.
Exciting things are on the horizon for both organizations.
The Haven Humane Society will host its annual Putt for Paws golf tournament in July 2021 to raise funds and promote animals available for adoption. It will be named after Daniel Zanine, the organization’s former chief financial officer, who passed away from the coronavirus the day before Thanksgiving in 2020.
UWECI plans to celebrate volunteers during its Time for Art: A Celebration of Volunteers event in April 2021. Participants can virtually celebrate and bid on art from upcoming artists in Eastern Iowa. Its annual Day of Caring will take place in May 2021.
“With volunteering, you can see immediate rewards. You can get positive reinforcement within a couple days — So that’s why I hope everybody gives back and everybody chooses to find a space that they can help others,” Paulson said.
Environmental Responsibility and Individual Impact with HandsOn Bay Area and TriesteAltruista
As residents of this planet, we’re all responsible for taking care of the earth. We can contribute on an individual level — through recycling, garbage clean-ups, and donating to related organizations — and on a larger scale, like through driving environmental policy changes.
Environmental activism is a pillar issue for many nonprofit organizations. One of the ways
, a Points of Light Global Network affiliate, helps in this area is by empowering individuals to care for their physical environment through volunteering.
HandsOn Bay Area’s mission statement is “People Helping People™.” What that means in practice is that the nonprofit organizes and manages people power to make the community stronger, safer and more fair. This happens in deep partnership with over 300 nonprofits, schools and parks and with individual volunteers.
“Through our network of nonprofits we serve every issue area important to the community,” Lou Reda, executive director at HandsOn Bay Area, told us. “We have volunteers serving less resourced populations around hunger relief, education and job readiness. We have volunteers serving the needs of people who have disabilities. We have volunteers serving the needs of folks who are homebound and isolated. We have volunteers serving to help reverse the damage that has been done to the environment and much more!”
According to Lou, the secret sauce to volunteering is that the volunteer receives just as much benefit as the people being served. Volunteering makes individuals feel like they are part of the intricate fabric that binds a community together and makes it healthy.
Volunteers prune roses to promote the growth of new flowers.
Across the pond,
, another Points of Light Global Network affiliate, is helping promote volunteering and the spread of altruism and solidarity in Italy. The nonprofit aims to mobilize large numbers of citizens in voluntary initiatives within their reach to respond to the needs of the city of Trieste.
For this reason, TristeAltruista not only guides aspiring volunteers in finding the project that suits them best, but also helps its partner organizations in finding volunteers with the right characteristics to achieve, and if possible, expand their goals. As Trieste is a coastal city, a large part of their work is cleaning up the shoreline. Every year they hold a “Cicca Day” to collect and dispose of cigarette butts on the beach.
TriesteAltruista helps individuals practice their natural “altruism.” For example, beginning in 2018 TriesteAltruista partnered with area organizations to launch the environmental and neighborhood volunteer project “PonzianAltruista.” This project’s aim was to tidy up and care for an abandoned green area inside the suburb of Ponziana, while directly involving the inhabitants.
This district exists in an area with as many as 34% of families made up of elderly women living alone. There is high socio-economic hardship, strong presence of multi-problematic subjects and deterioration of the common spaces. To date, more than 100 volunteers have participated in the project and the project managers who supervise and coordinate volunteers are inhabitants of the neighborhood. About 20 non-profit organizations have contributed with aggregation activities and the resulting gardens will be used by the neighborhood elementary schools horticulture courses, too.
Federico Bonfanti, president at TriesteAltruista, believes that volunteering is part of a civically engaged life in that it concretely immerses individuals in the various needs of their community. “Without volunteering, and therefore direct experience, issues remain a little too theoretical and individuals lack experiential awareness of the city’s reality,” he said.
Andino Castellano, vice-president and founder at TriesteAltruista, encourages volunteers to get involved and be aware that their actions will improve the lives of others and their environment: “A volunteer gesture costs little but is worth a lot, especially if it becomes a lifestyle. You can be an active rather than passive witness of this change.”
HandsOn Bay Area’s Lou Reda says, “For people who want to volunteer I say, don’t hold back. There is a tendency towards perfectionism that gets in the way of service. Just jump in and do what is needed now, regardless of whether you think you are the right person for the role or not. If you are there and you can help then you are the right person.”
Connect with HandsOn Bay Area on
Teens Encourage Youth to be the Driving Force in Reducing Single Use Plastic
17-year-old Amy Meek has always had a connection with nature, as she grew up in Nottingham, England. She remembers spending a lot of time with her sister Ella and her parents as they took family hiking trips and went on outdoor adventures. Eventually, her connection with the environment turned into a powerful youth movement to protect what she holds so close to her heart.
The Meek sisters couldn’t wait for someone else to do the work of protecting the environment because they believed that there was no guarantee that action would be taken — and that’s when Amy and Ella Meek brought Kids Against Plastic to life in 2016.
The Meek sisters took particular interest in plastic after learning about the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and one in particular had a vision of preventing the damage of plastic pollution — goal number 14: Life Below Water.
Their mission for Kids Against Plastic centers on reducing single use plastic consumption and encouraging individuals, schools and businesses to be more discerning when it comes to the damage that single use plastic can do. Single use plastic is essentially plastic that is used once and then thrown away and cannot be recycled. It ends up on landfills, and is commonly found in the ocean and around the animals that call it home.
Amy believes that the urgency in reducing single use plastic lies in the belief that it’s already proven to damage the environment and sea mammals — and that it will directly affect the future generations of our planet.
“If we don’t take action now to reduce plastic usage, it’s going to be something that we are forced to clean up for hundreds of years,” Amy said. “It’s not going away anytime soon and it looks like young people are going to be left with this massive environmental crisis that we’re going to have to fix despite not being the predominant cause of it,” she added.
First, Amy and Ella marched into a local café with plastic clipboards in hand and educated the staff on ways they could reduce their single use plastic. They continued this outreach in other cafes near Nottingham, and eventually began outreach in schools and other businesses.
Amy created the organization’s Plastic Clever Schools Initiative because she understands that reducing plastic can be initially intimidating, expensive and time consuming. The program is all about making small steps that eventually have a huge impact. These steps include using the main forms of plastic: plastic bottles, cups, lids, straws and bags.
The program has gathered more than 1,000 schools that have partnered with the sisters in making reusable items the new norm. She’s even spoken to the business manager at her own school about reducing plastic usage by supporting reusable lunch boxes, refillable canteens and wooden cutlery.
Amy also wants to see the organization and its volunteers pick up at least 100,000 pieces of plastic litter — one for every sea animal killed by plastic in the oceans every year. They’ve almost hit their goal with 90,000 pieces of litter picked so far.
Although Kids Against Plastic is based in the United Kingdom, Amy designed the organization’s educational resources to be adaptable anywhere around the globe. She believes in cleaning up the community you live in first before pointing fingers at others, and that everyone has a part to play in the global movement of protecting the environment.
Another important component of Kids Against Plastic is young people. Amy is dedicated to encouraging youth around the world to stand up for what they’re passionate about and stand firm in what they believe in. She’s seen youth involvement continue to grow, and the organization’s Kids Against Plastic Club — an initiative that encourages children to become active against plastic pollution— has reached 100 members.
A source of motivation for Amy and her sister lies in the fact that they no longer have to start educational conversations by telling people why plastic is harmful. They’ve seen attitudes towards plastic, environmentalism and litter have shifted on a global scale since 2016.
They also make it incredibly easy for schools and organizations to find educational resources on reducing plastic usage.
She was mostly at home with her family during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic and turned a difficult season into an opportunity of growth by digitizing most of Kids Against Plastic’s work. The organization hosted workshops and Zoom conversations online — something Meek had no prior experience in. It’s also been a season of true reflection for Meek.
“It gave us a chance to sit down and think about how we could improve the outreach that we do and how we could better support the young people we work with,” Amy said. “It’s been really great to see something positive come out of this.”
As Amy approaches the end of her secondary education in England, she has dreams of becoming an environmental campaigner or activist. She also finds herself to be more and more passionate about youth engagement.
“It’s not just the environment issues, but also the power that young people have when they stand up to make a difference — no matter what issue it is,” Amy said.
Shares Hannah Wojno, Director of Ruach Tova’s International Good Deeds Day, “We’re firm believers in giving to one’s community and actively contributing to making our shared world a better place. Instead of ‘giving back’ we see it simply as ‘giving’ to build out a united vision of the future.”
