What is it that gets you out of your comfort zone, giving back to the community? What is it that pushes you into action?
When you see needs out there in the community or even overseas, what hits home for you? Is it something close to home, like a family member or friend’s illness, something you saw on a blog or on TV?
Let’s talk about what pushes YOU to get involved outside yourself in the community. I imagine we’ve all donated clothing or home items and maybe even had a bake sale to raise money for missions or charity, so tell me about it.
For me, the past couple of years I’ve really felt the need to get outside my own personal comfort zone so much more than ever. Our Pastor at church has urged us all to get involved in the community and help wherever we can, sharing God’s love with those who don’t have what we have. There are so many good organizations out there to lend our time to and one of my own personal choices has been The Lovelady Center, a faith-based women’s home that houses over 300 women (and lots of children), many of them coming out of prison, with drug habits and bad choices.
They need a helping hand and they need to hear the Gospel and The Lovelady Center does both. So, when I heard their presentation almost 2 years ago, my heart was tugged in that direction and I’ve been involved with them off and on since then, teaching classes, sponsoring a Christmas table the last 2 years for the ladies Christmas party and I’ve donated clothing and home items to their thriftstore too. This is a small way to help, but one that has been very rewarding for me.
I’ve also just signed up to become a mentor for one lady at the center and look forward to getting started with that. And my church small group and I are going to make-over a room, updating it with paint and new bedding to help some of those ladies feel more comfortable in their new surroundings, as they get their lives together and hopefully get back in society in a few months.
Last November, a group of ladies came together and decorated a Holiday House, which was a fund-raiser for missionaries, Gary and Elizabeth Wilkins of By Provision ministries in Africa, building wells for clean water. I so enjoyed being part of that group and our collective efforts raised over $13,000 for these wonderful missionaries.
After hearing so much about Compassion International in the last couple of years from many bloggers who have gone on Compassion trips, to hearing the Director of Compassion speak at our church, I’m now sponsoring my own little girl in Honduras and am happy to be able to do that.
These are just a few ways that I’ve felt personally called to get involved in my community and abroad and now that I don’t hold down a full-time job, I have extra time to give of my myself in these areas, which makes my heart very happy.
I’d love to hear from all of you too. What pushes your personal buttons to get involved and do something in your own community or overseas?
I love working with disadvantaged children. I spend 1 or 2 Saturdays a month with some super cute kids living in the projects in NYC.
When someone is hurt or needs help I feel the need to help especially if children are invovled.
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We sponsor a child in africa and help out at local events
a touching story pushes my buttons
Just being aware of how well off I am compared to almost everyone else makes me want to give to others. Every year I give to Kiva, Donors Choose, Heifer International, and Planned Parenthood. I also volunteer as a tutor, which is the most personally rewarding!
seeing my friends volunteering and also experiencing good fortune. nothing motivates me more than gratitude I feel for another person
When I read a touching story in the paper, I always respond.
My husband’s a pastor of a church we started 3 years ago. Our goal was to give back to our community and globally. We purchased a children’s home in Belize that houses 15 girls from a life of abuse. We write letters and correspond to the girls building relationships and take trips regularly. In our own community we have adopted a charity organization that helps families..particularly mothers trying to raise their children. We just put together gift bags for Mother’s day for these women…each will be given her own nail kit complete with fingernail polish etc. It is a luxury item for these women. I encourage everyone to reach out in their own backyards and see that we can all help somewhere!
When a dear friend of mine was nearly beaten to death by her abusive husband, my eyes were opened to domestic abuse problems. She luckily was rescued by a non-profit organization that put her in a “safe house” for as long as she needed. She was eventually able to get court protection and get herself and her children away from a deadly situation, but she was one of the lucky ones. That experience has made me realize that there are people right in our own neighborhoods who need some serious help and often don’t know where to turn to get it. So domestic violence agencies are high on my preferred charity and volunteer list.
I donate to Goodwill every month