Ah November, when the weather starts to change (even if only briefly here in Texas), the holiday season is upon us, and Giving Tuesday (on November 29th, 2022) is on our minds. “Giving Tuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of radical generosity.”
We want to do our part to make an impact on our own communities and we all choose to do so in different ways. This is a very popular topic here at Enervee and our team members were eager to share their thoughts. I had the pleasure of interviewing a few of them about their favorite volunteering activities and how they got started in the first place.
What is your preferred way of giving back?
There are many ways you can volunteer in person as well as virtually. Some avenues include giving to charity, donating blood and plasma, shopping at local farmers’ markets, becoming a CASA/GAL and many more.
Anne: I don’t have a favorite. I donate time, money, expertise – depending on the need and how I can make a difference. Some current activities are gleaning organic vegetables at my friends’ Farm to Fight Hunger, all of which they donate to local food banks, donating to my college alma mater, actively participating in the grassroots organization Healdsburg 2040, and occasionally maintaining trails with the Redwood Trails Alliance.
Veronica: Time is our most valuable resource; I dedicate my free time. I love to raise funds and get teams together every year for the yearly walks! I also get local businesses to donate!
Randi: My favorite way of giving back is within the community. I have been involved with various things from a local club that raises money for scholarships for women, to being an be elected member of the chamber of commerce.
Why do you volunteer and when did you start?
Studies show that volunteering has a significant impact on our lives. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), some benefits of volunteering include reducing stress, increasing happiness, developing confidence, and finding purpose.
Veronica: I've been a Type 1 Diabetic for 38 years & their research efforts have directly improved my life. In a small way, I hope it helps to improve the lives of others by furthering the cause. I started when I was very young & my mother would take me to the yearly walks. That progressed to raising funds & getting teams together as I got older.
Randi: I have been volunteering for as long as I can remember; my earliest memory is volunteering at a local daycare. I’m always on the lookout for volunteer opportunities to give back in some small way.
Anne: There are many reasons, but a selfish driver is that it feels good to help others. Volunteering has also led me to a lot of great people, who have become close friends.
Tell us about the organization you volunteer with and why you chose that organization.
There are many volunteering opportunities in your community, but sometimes starting can be difficult. Websites like VolunteerMatch make it easy to find organizations you can get involved with by entering some basic information like your location.
Randi: I relocated just before the pandemic and felt a disconnect from my community. A former coworker had shared a need for a board member with a background in HR and thus began my journey with Flance Early Learning Center. ECE is extremely important but Flance really goes beyond an ECE with its roots in bringing a blended model to the community. Their facility is gorgeous and I personally love all their sustainability-focused projects that are, quite literally, award winning. To learn more about how you can make an impact with Flance Early Learning Center, check out this page.
Anne: One organization I volunteer with is Healdsburg 2040, which I co-founded back in 2018. It’s a grassroots effort to ensure that our wonderful community of 12,000 evolves in such a way that it remains vibrant and thrives in the future. Our main focus is on working with our City government to ensure that sustainability principles are front and center in strategic planning and decision-making. Check out Healdsburg 2040’s website if you’re interested in volunteering.
Veronica: Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation has been a force in raising funds for Diabetes research that touches millions of lives every year. The JDRF has directly improved my life. I'm very appreciative. It's my way of saying thank you.
According to a study done by U.S. News, out of 200 large companies surveyed in the finance, technology and digital media industries, 46% of them offer paid time off to volunteer. Enervee may not be a large company yet, but we’re proud to provide paid time off for volunteerism. Does this sound like a team you would like to join? Browse our job openings HERE and check out our other perks and benefits HERE.
