Support a cause that’s important to you through donations or volunteering

“I showed up at the event, 30 minutes early (as the video explained), and it turned out that I was the only volunteer ambassador there – meaning I was checking everyone in. I was very nervous since I thought I would get to “shadow” someone. Instead, it was all me – the site manager showed me how to check donors in, and the first donors, all veteran blood donors, also helped me (I think they loved being the experts to guide the newbie). And for the rest of the day, that’s what I did: donors showed their ID, I scanned it with a scanner, I checked off their name, I gave them a nametag, they had a seat and then got called up for the donation. It was easy, it was interesting (nice to chat with people, interesting to watch how they go through the different stations of donating), and there was about 30 minutes when no one was scheduled and I was able to eat the lunch I brought.”

“But hearing a first-hand account of kids going hungry just 20 minutes away from me? That was a jolt. I didn’t know it then, but that conversation would turn out to be a major life moment for me. I couldn’t sleep that night. [...] Next thing I knew, friends and strangers were showing up at my house with carloads of food. Seeing the crates of granola bars, ramen noodles, and Chef Boyardee piled around the Christmas tree made me feel like I was living in a holiday miracle.”

“I felt a connection with their cause and wanted to contribute by helping people instead of feeling sorry for them. [...] I was invited to their next activity for disadvantaged children, which allowed me to get involved. I found that I could make small contributions that made a big difference in someone’s life. I started helping blind students who needed a writer for exams. That was my first exposure to doing volunteer work.”