so one of the greatest things about working for a non-profit the last 25
working for a non-profit the last 25
working for a non-profit the last 25 years is the fact that I get to work
years is the fact that I get to work
years is the fact that I get to work with a lot of great volunteers in fact
with a lot of great volunteers in fact
with a lot of great volunteers in fact of the food bank we have a thousand
of the food bank we have a thousand
of the food bank we have a thousand volunteers that come through our doors
volunteers that come through our doors
volunteers that come through our doors each week one of our volunteers is 84
each week one of our volunteers is 84
each week one of our volunteers is 84 years old he likes to come and sort a
years old he likes to come and sort a
years old he likes to come and sort a few canned goods and then he likes to
few canned goods and then he likes to
few canned goods and then he likes to tell jokes most of the jokes he shares
tell jokes most of the jokes he shares
tell jokes most of the jokes he shares are incredibly inappropriate but he
are incredibly inappropriate but he
are incredibly inappropriate but he asked me one day says what is
asked me one day says what is
asked me one day says what is volunteering and wetting your pants have
volunteering and wetting your pants have
volunteering and wetting your pants have in common
in common
in common well I nervously shrugged and he said
well I nervously shrugged and he said
well I nervously shrugged and he said everybody sees you doing it but only you
everybody sees you doing it but only you
everybody sees you doing it but only you get the warm feeling not bad 484 right
get the warm feeling not bad 484 right
get the warm feeling not bad 484 right but but the truth is there’s a whole lot
but but the truth is there’s a whole lot
but but the truth is there’s a whole lot more benefit to volunteering than just
more benefit to volunteering than just
more benefit to volunteering than just the warm feeling last year 64 million
the warm feeling last year 64 million
the warm feeling last year 64 million Americans donated 8 billion hours of
Americans donated 8 billion hours of
Americans donated 8 billion hours of their time that was valued at a hundred
their time that was valued at a hundred
their time that was valued at a hundred and seventy-five billion dollars in
and seventy-five billion dollars in
and seventy-five billion dollars in economic impact across America children
economic impact across America children
economic impact across America children are tutored seniors are delivered meals
are tutored seniors are delivered meals
are tutored seniors are delivered meals trees are planted and pets are looked
trees are planted and pets are looked
trees are planted and pets are looked after recently here in our community
after recently here in our community
after recently here in our community individuals were rescued from a
individuals were rescued from a
individuals were rescued from a hurricane and comfort was given to
hurricane and comfort was given to
hurricane and comfort was given to families who suffered the tragedy in
families who suffered the tragedy in
families who suffered the tragedy in southern springs communities can be
southern springs communities can be
southern springs communities can be transformed and individuals impacted but
transformed and individuals impacted but
transformed and individuals impacted but I’m here today to talk to you about the
I’m here today to talk to you about the
I’m here today to talk to you about the growing amount of research and data that
growing amount of research and data that
growing amount of research and data that suggests that those who give support
suggests that those who give support
suggests that those who give support through volunteering experience greater
through volunteering experience greater
through volunteering experience greater health benefits than those who receive
health benefits than those who receive
health benefits than those who receive support from their volunteerism
support from their volunteerism
support from their volunteerism highlighting the fact that we truly
highlighting the fact that we truly
highlighting the fact that we truly you get back more than we give when we
you get back more than we give when we
you get back more than we give when we volunteer so it’s specific to physical
volunteer so it’s specific to physical
volunteer so it’s specific to physical and mental health here are just a few
and mental health here are just a few
and mental health here are just a few findings when seniors volunteered to
findings when seniors volunteered to
findings when seniors volunteered to mentor children they improved their
mentor children they improved their
mentor children they improved their stamina their memory their flexibility
stamina their memory their flexibility
stamina their memory their flexibility they decrease their levels of depression
they decrease their levels of depression
they decrease their levels of depression when 10th graders in Canada volunteered
when 10th graders in Canada volunteered
when 10th graders in Canada volunteered in an after-school program tutoring
in an after-school program tutoring
in an after-school program tutoring children
children
children the volunteers lost weight and improved
the volunteers lost weight and improved
the volunteers lost weight and improved their cholesterol profiles even when
their cholesterol profiles even when
their cholesterol profiles even when researchers isolated for things like
researchers isolated for things like
researchers isolated for things like gender age socio economics and health
gender age socio economics and health
gender age socio economics and health they consistently found that when people
they consistently found that when people
they consistently found that when people volunteer they live longer you know
volunteer they live longer you know
volunteer they live longer you know researchers also saw that when people
researchers also saw that when people
researchers also saw that when people volunteer they could receive health
volunteer they could receive health
volunteer they could receive health benefits that went way beyond what can
benefits that went way beyond what can
benefits that went way beyond what can be achieved through traditional medical
be achieved through traditional medical
be achieved through traditional medical care which is made me believe that maybe
care which is made me believe that maybe
care which is made me believe that maybe one of the solutions to lowering our
one of the solutions to lowering our
one of the solutions to lowering our nation’s healthcare cost is volunteering
nation’s healthcare cost is volunteering
nation’s healthcare cost is volunteering so there’s three things you’re going to
so there’s three things you’re going to
so there’s three things you’re going to want to remember when it comes to
want to remember when it comes to
want to remember when it comes to getting the maximum amount of health
getting the maximum amount of health
getting the maximum amount of health benefits from volunteering making the
benefits from volunteering making the
benefits from volunteering making the connection making it pure and then
connection making it pure and then
connection making it pure and then getting the right dose so first making
getting the right dose so first making
getting the right dose so first making the connection it’s important to follow
the connection it’s important to follow
the connection it’s important to follow your heart what are you passionate about
your heart what are you passionate about
your heart what are you passionate about where are you called
where are you called
where are you called where does your faith take you there’s
where does your faith take you there’s
where does your faith take you there’s some great websites to help you connect
some great websites to help you connect
some great websites to help you connect with a local nonprofit or a great
with a local nonprofit or a great
with a local nonprofit or a great volunteer experience sites like just
volunteer experience sites like just
volunteer experience sites like just serve volunteer match and the United Way
serve volunteer match and the United Way
serve volunteer match and the United Way volunteer Center these nonprofit
volunteer Center these nonprofit
volunteer Center these nonprofit websites run like a dating service where
websites run like a dating service where
websites run like a dating service where you highlight your skills your interests
you highlight your skills your interests
you highlight your skills your interests your abilities and match you with a need
your abilities and match you with a need
your abilities and match you with a need and trust me as a non-profit we’ll look
and trust me as a non-profit we’ll look
and trust me as a non-profit we’ll look past all of your baggage and your
past all of your baggage and your
past all of your baggage and your commitment is
commitment is
commitment is we just need you oftentimes because of
we just need you oftentimes because of
we just need you oftentimes because of lack of transportation or time or even a
lack of transportation or time or even a
lack of transportation or time or even a disability people choose to volunteer
disability people choose to volunteer
disability people choose to volunteer over the phone or via the web that’s a
over the phone or via the web that’s a
over the phone or via the web that’s a great way to connect nonprofits need
great way to connect nonprofits need
great way to connect nonprofits need help with writing and graphic design
help with writing and graphic design
help with writing and graphic design they also could use help with web-based
they also could use help with web-based
they also could use help with web-based tasks so all your volunteering can be
tasks so all your volunteering can be
tasks so all your volunteering can be done from home you might need to go to a
done from home you might need to go to a
done from home you might need to go to a quick orientation or attend a few
quick orientation or attend a few
quick orientation or attend a few meetings but you too can volunteer
meetings but you too can volunteer
meetings but you too can volunteer anywhere you’d like what’s important is
anywhere you’d like what’s important is
anywhere you’d like what’s important is that you heed the call to serve and in
that you heed the call to serve and in
that you heed the call to serve and in some ancient scripture it suggests that
some ancient scripture it suggests that
some ancient scripture it suggests that when we’re in the service of our fellow
when we’re in the service of our fellow
when we’re in the service of our fellow beings were actually only in the service
beings were actually only in the service
beings were actually only in the service of our God so number two making it pure
of our God so number two making it pure
of our God so number two making it pure well with vitamins potency matters
well with vitamins potency matters
well with vitamins potency matters likewise the potency of our volunteering
likewise the potency of our volunteering
likewise the potency of our volunteering makes a difference you’re gonna want to
makes a difference you’re gonna want to
makes a difference you’re gonna want to make sure it’s totally voluntary it has
make sure it’s totally voluntary it has
make sure it’s totally voluntary it has to be altruistic you can’t volunteer
to be altruistic you can’t volunteer
to be altruistic you can’t volunteer because you feel obligated it can never
because you feel obligated it can never
because you feel obligated it can never come from a place of guilt I’m sure all
come from a place of guilt I’m sure all
come from a place of guilt I’m sure all of us have been voluntold to do
of us have been voluntold to do
of us have been voluntold to do something when that happens we lose the
something when that happens we lose the
something when that happens we lose the health benefits but when our
health benefits but when our
health benefits but when our volunteerism is truly discretionary when
volunteerism is truly discretionary when
volunteerism is truly discretionary when it comes from an unselfish place that’s
it comes from an unselfish place that’s
it comes from an unselfish place that’s when all of the health benefits come
when all of the health benefits come
when all of the health benefits come from lowering your cholesterol and blood
from lowering your cholesterol and blood
from lowering your cholesterol and blood pressure to decreasing your anxiety and
pressure to decreasing your anxiety and
pressure to decreasing your anxiety and depression you have that opportunity to
depression you have that opportunity to
depression you have that opportunity to get the health benefit you just have to
get the health benefit you just have to
get the health benefit you just have to choose to connect the volunteering will
choose to connect the volunteering will
choose to connect the volunteering will save your life and you just need to make
save your life and you just need to make
save your life and you just need to make it pure but here’s the tricky part
it pure but here’s the tricky part
it pure but here’s the tricky part now that you know that volunteering will
now that you know that volunteering will
now that you know that volunteering will make you live longer that can’t be the
make you live longer that can’t be the
make you live longer that can’t be the reason why you volunteer because you’re
reason why you volunteer because you’re
reason why you volunteer because you’re going to lose the
going to lose the
going to lose the alright I think Gandhi said it best he
alright I think Gandhi said it best he
alright I think Gandhi said it best he said the best way to find our life or
said the best way to find our life or
said the best way to find our life or ourselves is when we lose ourselves in
ourselves is when we lose ourselves in
ourselves is when we lose ourselves in the service of others so the last thing
the service of others so the last thing
the service of others so the last thing number three getting the right dose so
number three getting the right dose so
number three getting the right dose so researchers knowing that volunteering
researchers knowing that volunteering
researchers knowing that volunteering increases your life wanted to know if
increases your life wanted to know if
increases your life wanted to know if you volunteered more would that make you
you volunteered more would that make you
you volunteered more would that make you live longer and what they found that
live longer and what they found that
live longer and what they found that there was a volunteer threshold or a
there was a volunteer threshold or a
there was a volunteer threshold or a minimum and maximum dose you’ll want to
minimum and maximum dose you’ll want to
minimum and maximum dose you’ll want to volunteer between 100 and 200 hours a
volunteer between 100 and 200 hours a
volunteer between 100 and 200 hours a year or between two to four hours a week
year or between two to four hours a week
year or between two to four hours a week and you can receive those maximum health
and you can receive those maximum health
and you can receive those maximum health benefits and live a longer life so
benefits and live a longer life so
benefits and live a longer life so remember make the connection make it
remember make the connection make it
remember make the connection make it pure and get the right dose one day when
pure and get the right dose one day when
pure and get the right dose one day when I was at the Food Bank standing in our
I was at the Food Bank standing in our
I was at the Food Bank standing in our lobby a man came up to me he wanted to
lobby a man came up to me he wanted to
lobby a man came up to me he wanted to shake my hand and say thank you he
shake my hand and say thank you he
shake my hand and say thank you he explained that he had just gone through
explained that he had just gone through
explained that he had just gone through the most difficult year of his life he
the most difficult year of his life he
the most difficult year of his life he and his wife had an eleven year old
and his wife had an eleven year old
and his wife had an eleven year old child and his daughter was beautiful and
child and his daughter was beautiful and
child and his daughter was beautiful and amazing but due to an illness they lost
amazing but due to an illness they lost
amazing but due to an illness they lost her and in losing her he said he lost
her and in losing her he said he lost
her and in losing her he said he lost everything his marriage his job he lost
everything his marriage his job he lost
everything his marriage his job he lost hope in that place of discouragement he
hope in that place of discouragement he
hope in that place of discouragement he said he had trouble getting up in the
said he had trouble getting up in the
said he had trouble getting up in the morning and just wished he had died too
morning and just wished he had died too
morning and just wished he had died too but he saw an ad for the Food Bank and
but he saw an ad for the Food Bank and
but he saw an ad for the Food Bank and so he came in he started to volunteer
so he came in he started to volunteer
so he came in he started to volunteer while he volunteered he saw what kind of
while he volunteered he saw what kind of
while he volunteered he saw what kind of an impact he could have he started to
an impact he could have he started to
an impact he could have he started to find purpose that purpose began to heal
find purpose that purpose began to heal
find purpose that purpose began to heal him isn’t it interesting for all of us
him isn’t it interesting for all of us
him isn’t it interesting for all of us when we’re in our season of trial when
when we’re in our season of trial when
when we’re in our season of trial when we feel overwhelmed alone and
we feel overwhelmed alone and
we feel overwhelmed alone and discouraged when we feel like the weight
discouraged when we feel like the weight
discouraged when we feel like the weight of the world is on our shoulders and
of the world is on our shoulders and
of the world is on our shoulders and we’re ready to give up the quickest and
we’re ready to give up the quickest and
we’re ready to give up the quickest and easiest way to lighten our
easiest way to lighten our
easiest way to lighten our it’s just to take the load of someone
it’s just to take the load of someone
it’s just to take the load of someone else on our shoulders it’s
else on our shoulders it’s
else on our shoulders it’s counterintuitive you would think that
counterintuitive you would think that
counterintuitive you would think that adding more weight would crush you even
adding more weight would crush you even
adding more weight would crush you even faster but it heals it recalibrates
service has the power to cure so don’t
service has the power to cure so don’t be surprised next time when you go visit
be surprised next time when you go visit
be surprised next time when you go visit your doctor that he doesn’t prescribe a
your doctor that he doesn’t prescribe a
your doctor that he doesn’t prescribe a healthy dose of volunteering along with
healthy dose of volunteering along with
healthy dose of volunteering along with good diet and exercise now is our time
good diet and exercise now is our time
good diet and exercise now is our time all of us need to choose to get out
all of us need to choose to get out
all of us need to choose to get out there and volunteer our lives and the
there and volunteer our lives and the
there and volunteer our lives and the lives of those we serve depend on it
”
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