volunteer

Patriot Day Service Opportunities

September 10, 2015 By Will Lipovsky Leave a Comment

Patriot Day is a day of remembrance and service, honoring the loss of nearly 3,000 lives on September 11, 2001. While many will choose to volunteer with the simple goal of honoring the day, we can accomplish so much more by setting our sights on volunteer opportunities that support the U.S. economy.

The stronger the economy, the better we all do. Look for these opportunities, supported by AmeriCorps, designed to alleviate poverty and strengthen our country.

ServiceWorks

This AmeriCorps sponsored program ServiceWorks is also supported by the Citi Foundation and Points of Light. The program seeks to harness the power of volunteers to reach 25,000 low-income youth and young adults to help them make smarter choices about their careers and education. It operates in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Newark, San Francisco, St. Louis and Washington, D.C.

AmeriCorps VISTA

The AmeriCorps’ VISTA program was introduced by President Kennedy in 1963 and has helped to form many of the most successful anti-poverty initiatives in the U.S. The Head Start program and banking system of Credit Unions were both initiatives that found success in part with the help of VISTA members.

VISTA is a long-term service opportunity. To make that possible, members receive a living allowance, which counts as income. Depending on the program you volunteer in and at your supervisor’s discretion, you may be able to work part time during your service period as well. The program provides life and health insurance to volunteers as well as childcare assistance for those with children under 13 years old. Relocation and travel assistance is given to those who must travel more than 50 miles to relocate for their assigned project.

You may also opt for an end of service stipend of $125 per month of service, up to $1,500 to help you get back into your normal work life after your service ends, but this stipend is only for those who have served 12 months, or compelling personal circumstances force you to end your service early. Those who serve beyond 12 months will receive an additional stipend of $125 per month, unless they choose to receive The Segal AmeriCorps Education Award.

Taking a year off your life to volunteer is a major commitment, but one that carries with it a great sense of accomplishment. VISTA members may enjoy college loans and deferment for their year of service and some VISTA training courses may count towards college credit. In addition, those who complete one year of service receive Non-Competitive Eligibility (NCE) status for federal jobs. If you are hired into a federal job, your year of service counts towards a federal pension. All of these are excellent financial benefits you earn from your service, but it’s what you give back that means the most. You’ll be helping underprivileged communities gain financial independence.

However you decide to serve on Patriot Day, your volunteerism adds value to the lives of those around you. Use these opportunities to make a real difference in America. If you know of any events going on in your city or region, please comment below. We will add them to this post.

Remember 9/11.

Smithsonian Institution Seeking Volunteers to Digitize Its Collections

August 12, 2014 By Jeffrey Strain 2 Comments

The Smithsonian Institution is seeking volunteers to transcribe documents so they can be digitized

For those who have extra time and would like to contribute to science around the world (even if you don’t have a scientific background), you now have the perfect opportunity. The Smithsonian Institution is looking for volunteers to help digitize its vast collection of science and history. The new website where this is all organized was launched today, and anyone who would like to volunteer can sign up to help transcribe thousands of handwritten and typed artifacts which can’t be read by computers. Once completed, these will become available in digital form to scientists and researchers around the world who would’ve had to come to the museums to get the information in the past.

Why the need for the volunteers? The Smithsonian’s collection is huge, and trying to get everything digitized only using staff resources would take decades. By using volunteers and harnessing far greater numbers of people, it should be possible to turn all the information into digital form in a far shorter period of time. A good example was the beta test for this project. Over the last year, 1,000 volunteers managed to complete more than 13,000 pages of transcription, including completing projects in a couple of days which would have taken the Smithsonian staff months without their help.

One of the projects that these beta testers were able to complete was transcribing 45,000 labels attached to the the National Museum of Natural History bumblebee specimen collection. The important information from these bees is now available to scientists around the world who are researching the decline of bee colonies. This is one example of why digitizing the information is important so all people have access to it.

Smithsonian Secretary Wayne Clough notes, “We are thrilled to invite the public to be our partners in the creation of knowledge to help open our resources for professional and casual researchers to make new discoveries. For years, the vast resources of the Smithsonian were powered by the pen; they can now be powered by the pixel.”

Here are some of the projects available for those interested as noted by the Smithsonian Institute (along with many others):

For Art Lovers

Handwritten personal letters of artists from the Archives of American Art: Read and transcribe personal letters from artists such as Mary Cassatt, Grandma Moses and Claes Oldenburg. Transcriptions of these letters will be part of the Archives forthcoming book The Art of Handwriting. In an age of emails, texts and tweets, when handwritten letters have ceased to be a primary mode of person-to-person communication, this book will explore what can be learned from the handwriting of artists.

For Armchair Archeologists

Field reports from Langdon Warner: Langdon Warner was an American archaeologist and art historian who specialized in East Asian art. He was also one of the Monuments Men who worked to protect monuments and cultural treasures in Japan during World War II. A professor at Harvard and Curator of Oriental Art at Harvard’s Fogg Museum, he is reputed to be one of the models for Steven Spielberg’s Indiana Jones.

For Bird Lovers

Observation notebooks of James Eike: James Eike was a Virginia bird watcher who kept impeccably detailed field observations of birds and the weather nearly every day from 1960 to 1983 near his home in Northern Virginia. In addition to being an important resource for ecologists, it also includes tidbits of cultural events from that time, including the 1969 moon landing.

You can sign up to volunteer here.

(Photo courtesy of treewoman8)

15 Ways to Deal With Emotions Without Retail Therapy

May 10, 2013 By Jennifer Derrick 4 Comments

“I’m so messed up. I’m going out for a little retail therapy. Wanna come?” So began a recent conversation with my neighbor. I’ll admit that she’s got every reason to be upset: Her kids are in trouble, there are financial problems in her house, her job is a mess, and her relatives are the sort of people that give “family” a bad name. Add to that she just had two deaths in the family. That’s a lot of emotional baggage to be carrying around and I feel for her.

Her answer to all of this was to go for a little retail therapy. I declined her invitation. Sure, I could be supportive, but I’d rather listen to her talk about it on a walk than watch her blow money she doesn’t have (remember there are financial problems, here). I did see her unloading her car when she got home and it didn’t look like she’d done a “little” retail therapy. She’d done a lot of retail therapy. Bags from stores that I know are in two different malls came out of the car, along with a couple from some free-standing stores. I didn’t say anything, but I’m thinking that she’s got to find a better way to deal with all of her emotions, especially since part of the problem is already financial.

Last year another woman that I know lost her husband. If there was ever an excuse for going off the emotional rails, that was it. But she handled it with grace and no shopping. She could have gone on a shopping binge as she was well provided for financially, but she chose to find other ways to deal with her grief. There are plenty of alternatives to retail therapy that will be better for both you and your wallet in the long run. They aren’t as easy as heading to the local mall, but there are more rewarding. Here are some ideas.

Low cost counseling

If your problems aren’t severe or physical in nature, you might be able to get some help via non-traditional therapy sources such as church groups, helplines, and support groups.

Journaling

Writing about your problems can be a great way to see them in a new light and come up with solutions. If it’s not the sort of problem that can be “solved,” journaling can still be a great way for you to vent some emotions in a safe and nonjudgmental atmosphere.

Volunteer

Volunteering is a positive thing to do. It can make you feel better about yourself and others, and it gives you a chance to be out amongst other positive people. The work can be distracting, too. Pick a cause that’s meaningful to you and spend some time helping.

Exercise

It’s well known that exercise reduces stress and releases feel-good endorphins into your bloodstream. You don’t have to overdo it, either. A simple walk will do, but if you’ve got some rage to work off, you can look into things like boxing or martial arts.

Get out in nature

Sunshine is a great mood lifter. For many people, the natural world can be soothing. Go for a walk in your local park or even take a walk in your neighborhood. If you live close to a place like a lake, the beach, or the mountains, those can be wonderful, too. Take up gardening if you want some solid outdoor exercise. Get out of the artificially lit gym and go outside. (Wear sunscreen to protect yourself, though.)

Distract yourself

Some people deal with emotions best when they don’t think about what’s bothering them. That’s sort of the idea behind retail therapy. But there are plenty of free and low cost distractions to be had. Rent some DVD’s or watch some old favorites you already own. Work a jigsaw puzzle, play a board game (there are even solo games available if you don’t have company to play with), go to a museum or free concert, work on some hobbies or crafts, or take a class in something that interests you.

Work

Being a workaholic may not be ideal, but there are some people who find work to be a great emotional outlet and distraction. If this is you, have at it. Just be careful not to cross the line from “Hey, this is helpful,” over into, “All I ever do is work and I hate it.”

Just be

Sometimes you just have to simply “be” to deal with whatever’s bothering you. Sit quietly, think through the problem, meditate, or pray. If you can find a way to go on an inexpensive retreat for a few days, that might be helpful.

Listen to music

Many people find that music can help soothe their emotions. Sometimes you may want some metal screaming through your head and other days you may want some soothing classical or New Age melodies. When you need a lift, bubble-gum pop or music that you remember positively from your younger days may work.

Be with people

Some people deal with emotions best when they are surrounded by friends or family. Sympathetic listeners or fun people can be helpful.

Be alone

Other people do best when left alone. If you don’t want to be around people, don’t feel like you have to accept any invitations, no matter how well-meaning. You can simply say, “No thanks. I’d rather be alone right now.” Only the most insensitive jerks will be offended by that.

Find comfort in rituals

Sometimes, during periods of stress or grief, it’s tempting to skip things like birthday/anniversary celebrations and holidays. But this may be a mistake. There can be comfort and relief in observing traditions, even if they seem painful at first (think putting up a Christmas tree after the death of a loved one). It can be hard to get started, but many people find they’re glad they went ahead with it in the end.

Read

You can read fiction to “take you away from it all,” or you can read non-fiction that’s uplifting or somehow related to your problems. The self-help aisle at the library can be full of quackery, but there are also some gems in there that might be helpful.

Don’t make it worse

Whatever you’re going through is bad enough. You don’t need to compound the problem by watching sensationalist news stories designed to scare you to death. You don’t need to participate in conversations with people whose sole mission in life seems to be to work you up into a frenzy or to depress you further. (You know the people I’m talking about. They’re the ones who say they want to help you, but they really want you to dish the dirt or wallow in misery with them.) Surround yourself with positive people and messages and eliminate the negatives.

Get a checkup

If your problems persist, go get a physical. Sometimes what seem like emotional issues are really physical issues like vitamin deficiencies, thyroid disorders, food allergies/intolerances, or hormone imbalances. Many problems are easy to fix with medication or dietary/lifestyle changes, once you know what’s going on. But you have to figure it out, first, and a doctor can help.

Of course, if you need more help than this, by all means go to see a licensed professional and get medication if the doctor thinks you need it. Sometimes emotional issues are a medical problem in the brain and all the exercise, journaling, and distractions in the world won’t fix it. But even if you end up having to see a doctor, that’s a far better use of your money than heading to the mall to buy a bunch of crap you don’t need.

(Photo courtesy of Dragonleek)

10 Ways To Prevent Adult Boredom

October 29, 2012 By Jennifer Derrick 4 Comments

A couple of years ago, I wrote a piece about how to prevent kids from getting bored. The point was that when kids get bored, they get expensive. It’s tempting to give into the whining and take them to the movies, buy them a new toy, or take them to a paid play space. Well, the same is true for adults. While most adults don’t whine about being bored, bored adults can do way more damage to a budget than a kid. We have our own credit cards and transportation to malls and other spendy places. We can also take expensive vacations to relieve our boredom, buy a new car, or, heck, move to a new house in a new neighborhood.

The good news is that, unlike kids, we aren’t confined to our rooms. We can venture further afield to relieve our boredom and not all of those journeys need to be expensive. Here are some ideas to relive boredom that don’t involve shopping.

Learn Something

Brush up on your skills for work or learn something new like a language or how to cook. There are plenty of low cost classes at local community programs, or you can teach yourself using materials borrowed from the library.

Catch Up On Your Chores

If you’re bored, you have time to do all those things you always say you never have time to do. Clean out the closet, declutter your drawers, or trim the hedges. It’s not fun but it’s productive, and you probably won’t be bored anymore.

Take Up A Hobby

Many hobbies are free or inexpensive. Even those that are expensive often have lower-cost or entry level offerings. Think of what you might like to do and then try it.

Volunteer

There are many types of volunteer opportunities, ranging from in-person jobs to virtual volunteering. You can volunteer in almost any area of interest. You’ll not only get past your boredom when you volunteer, you’ll help others.

Take A Tour Of Your Own Town

We tend to take our hometowns for granted and assume there’s nothing fun to do. Usually, that’s not true. Visit your local visitor’s center and check out the offerings.

Make Contact

Maybe you’re not really bored, but starved for human contact. Call or email a relative or friend you haven’t talked to in ages. Join a new group or go visit a new neighbor. Spending time with others can be a great way to get over being bored.

Work More

If you’re really bored, you can work more and maybe earn some extra money. Volunteer for extra shifts or overtime. Get a part-time job or start your own business.

Exercise

You don’t need to join a gym. Just go for a walk or a bike ride. Go to the park and play Frisbee. Do a workout DVD or exergame. If you’re moving, you’re probably not bored.

Find Free Entertainment

There are tons of free things to do in most towns. You just have to be willing to look for them. Most are not heavily publicized and you may have to do some digging, but the rewards can be worth it.

Daydream

Sometimes being bored isn’t a bad thing. Our brains need downtime. Spend some time doodling in a notebook, sitting on the porch watching the world go by, or walking in nature. Daydreaming frees up your creativity and lets you work through problems. Learn to recognize the difference between true boredom and giving your brain a break.

If you’re really bored and nothing easy seems to relieve it, you need to ask yourself what’s at the root of the problem. Maybe you’re not so much bored as desperately unhappy. Maybe you’re using mindless shopping or TV watching to mask some other sort of pain. Those types of problems are different from simple boredom and they won’t be resolved by taking up a hobby or learning to dance. If that’s the case, you might need to see a counselor or find some other way to deal with your unhappiness. If you’re simply bored, though, there are plenty of things you can do to relieve it and most don’t involve spending much money.

(Photo courtesy of AliceNWondrlnd)

Penny Experiment

October 5, 2010 By David G. Mitchell 2 Comments

Each time that I sit down to write an article, I never really know how it will turn out or whether it will be published. That sense of unknowing always takes me back to junior high school when I was always convinced that my papers just wouldn’t measure up to expectation. So far, I have been fortunate and almost every article I submitted here has been accepted (with the sole exception being an article I wrote about sex and money which, as Jeffrey explained it to me, was just too boring — a comment that troubled me for about six months after he shared it with me!)

As I write the column that I hope you are now reading, I hope that I have not found a second topic that Jeffrey will reject. That topic is Jeffrey himself.

Although we have never met in person, I’ve gotten to know Jeffrey over the past couple of years. He is a good fellow, full of ideas and has high ideals. More importantly, he takes his ideas and he executes them. As an example, he has taken his desire to be a force for positive change and turned it into Penny Experiment. Penny Experiment is an attempt to turn a found penny on the ground into $1 million worth of food for food banks. So far, Penny Experiment has turned a single penny into over $18,000 in donated food, through a combination of Jeffrey’s initiative and the efforts of the many people who have donated their time and their talent to the project.

I encourage you to visit the Penny Experiment website to learn more about Jeffrey’s effort to feed the hungry, and to learn more about ways in which you can contribute. There are many ways that you can get involved that can also help you save money yourself. Jeffrey recently spend 100 days eating well on less than $1 a day to show how he was able to get food for food banks for pennies on the dollar. He is currently writing a series on how you can use this strategy to save money on your own groceries and donate the extras you get for free to your local food bank (like many others have already done) to add to Penny Experiment donation totals.

The Penny Experiment is a wonderful example of how the simplest of ideas, coupled with vision and initiative, can give rise to great things. Even if Penny Experiment were to end today, it has already delivered a lot of meals to food banks in the USA. Whatever your reasons may be for getting involved, I encourage you to do so.

Have you ever contributed to a food bank? Has a food bank ever come to your assistance when you have needed it? Do you ever throw away food that you have allowed to expire or do you find a way to ensure that you are not wasting it?

A Life Without Debt: Charitable Giving and The Debt Free Life

September 22, 2009 By Sadie Morris 8 Comments

The other day a friend asked me if I gave to any charities, or did I just save all my money in order to keep myself debt free. The questioner seemed to think that a debt free life automatically equates to a miserly life. There seemed to be a belief that one cannot be both debt free and a giver.

I will admit that when I was much younger and had very little money that remaining debt free took every cent that I had. I didn’t have any money left over to give to my church, or any other charity that I cared about. Just paying the bills was all I could do; charitable giving would have had to go on credit cards and I wasn’t willing to do that. But just because I didn’t have any money didn’t mean that I gave nothing. I found other ways to give.

I volunteered whenever my church had a bazaar or barbeque to raise money. If they were having a community yard sale to raise money I always scrounged up things to donate. If there was a disaster, I worked at the food bank and Red Cross, helping to assemble disaster relief. I volunteered for other organizations that I wanted to help, too, giving as much time as I could. I also donated unwanted items to the Salvation Army and Goodwill so that others could use them and the charities could profit from the sales. If a charity had a food drive, I’d take some of the freebies and surplus that I got from good couponing and sales shopping and donate that. I also ran races for charities that I wanted to support, raising money against the miles that I ran. All of this cost me very little or nothing and yet was a very tangible way of giving back.

Now that I have more money, I do give funds to my church and to charities. As my income increased, I gave a little more each year and still remained debt free because the giving was part of a carefully planned budget. Last year we gave away about fifteen percent of our income. While I have no doubt that these charities put the money to good use, I find that I prefer the more tangible ways of giving that I learned when I was broke. Writing a check is impersonal; getting directly involved is a chance not only to give, but to be involved in the community that you’re trying to help.

Now I do both. I write some checks and I get involved whenever I can. I find that this balanced form of giving is good for my soul. I try to give the most money to the charities that I cannot help physically because they are too far away or do not have any way for me to get directly involved. I try to give more of my time to local charities and those that offer a tangible way of giving, such as road racing. I still give some money to these organizations, but I’d rather give my time and take joy from a job well done and the knowledge that I’ve helped someone directly by my actions.

Being debt free does not mean that someone is a miser. While I’m sure that some debt free people give nothing, part of the joy for me in being debt free is knowing that I have money to help others. My money isn’t all tied up in other obligations. But even if you’re just starting out on the debt free path and have little money to give, it is still possible to give of your time, energy, and belongings, and to share some of your abundance with others. Such contributions are just as valuable and appreciated and they give you a chance to get involved with the cause you are helping.