Get Out and Give Back!

Below is a blog I wrote for my friend Jane Hess Collins.  She has a wonderful website and business to help people to give back.  She is motivating and inspirational in all that she does.  I encourage you to look at her site and see some ways you might want to give back!

Here’s what I wrote:

Getting out and giving back – what’s in it for me?

For many years I was like so many of my friends, I would write checks to charities and donate clothes when clearing out my closet.  The good feeling didn’t last very long and frankly I wouldn’t remember what I did in the name of “doing good” until it was tax time.

A friend from the gym asked me to join her in teaching an hour class at Community Lodgings, a transitional housing program.  My friend knew that I gave workshops and helped people with getting ahead in their careers.  We came up with an agenda and enough classes to come back three or four times.

I learned more from that first class than I’ve learned in a long time.  The attendees were far more attentive than most in my career workshops.  No one was taking anything for granted.  The interaction was great with lots of questions and discussion.  The attendees gave it their all to get the most out of the hour.  I was hooked.

I shared some examples of employee behavior that I’ve experienced over the years – really outrageous stuff.  The audience was shocked to hear the stories.  I was reminded that job skills and professional behavior are learned – and don’t automatically happen to those who have more money and higher education.

Since this first experience, I’ve volunteered with Empowered Women International working with some on interviewing skills.

Currently I’m committed to Doorways, helping out at their family home, another transitional housing program.  I’ve worked one on one with some of the clients, again on interviewing skills.  I’m able to fill in for staff during the day, a few days a week.  This frees them up to attend group meetings.  My duties include, answering the phone, screening the front door to let people in and filling client’s requests for food from the storage closet.

What I’ve discovered from my work with Doorways, you never know what can make a difference in people’s lives.  While I might not be having a profound impact on someone each time I show up to volunteer, I do know by simply showing up I’m making life a little easier for the staff.

Showing up is now my way of giving to others.  Start small, see what it’s like, understand it’s not always glamorous, you don’t always know the impact you might make – as my dear friend Jane says – Get out and give back – I think that says it all.

What I realized by physically helping out, the good feeling I get is much stronger.