Sterling Volunteers Celebrates National Make a Difference Day with VivaVolunteer
Posted Thursday, October 5th, 2017 by Sterling Volunteers Staff
What do we mean when we say, “I want to make a difference?” In an age where many people seek out emotional fulfillment from both their work and personal lives, what does it mean to want to influence change in the world – and can it really be done? One of Emily Dickinson’s most famous poems stated with uncharacteristic clarity that doing for others is not only deeply fulfilling, but something to be strived for: “If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain.”
Some folks even quit their corporate jobs for an emotionally gratifying position like becoming a volunteer manager or becoming a teacher in an underprivileged area, because jobs that directly help another person allow them to know they are making a change in the world. The search for how to “make a difference” doesn’t have to be switching your 9-to-5, however – people all around the country volunteer every day to help their neighbors and communities flourish and in return they get the immeasurable good feeling of having made a difference in another’s life for the better.
For this year’s Make a Difference Day on Saturday, October 28, 2017, we thought we would share some of the posts from our social media campaign #VivaVolunteer that highlights volunteers around the USA doing incredible things. From mentoring kids to helping homeless animals, there are good deeds to be done no matter your schedule or wallet size.
So here’s some inspiration to get you inspired for Make a Difference Day:
“Being on the board of a nonprofit is incredibly meaningful to me. Our local LGBT center enriches the lives of so many LGBTQ+ community members and I’m proud to help them fulfill their mission and vision in this world.”
Tommy Marzella, Board of Directors | LGBT Cleveland Community Center
“I volunteer for Dry Bones, which helps homeless youth in Denver and with the Special Olympics Colorado as part of the Young Professionals Board. The reason I volunteer is to create and foster a better community where I live. It is important to me to help people, especially youth, to be a positive influence and make the world a more connected place. And I always receive so much more from my volunteer experiences than I give.”
– Stephanie Purdy | Volunteer, Dry Bones Denver and Special Olympics Colorado
“Growing up as a kid, I always had a soft spot for stray cats and had a habit of fostering them at home. I am an Advocate of pet adoption and responsible pet ownership. Being part of CARA Welfare Philippines and being able to fulfill their mission as a non-profit organization brings a sense of gratification to me as well as make a difference to my society in every little way possible which makes my experience with CARA worthwhile.”
– Vanessa Sanita | Volunteer, CARA Welfare Philippines
Volunteer Managers – are you a leader in the community who donates your time to a worthy cause, or do you know someone who does? Email us and, after a one-question interview, you could be featured in a #VivaVolunteer weekly post! Please send your name and contact information to: info@verifiedvolunteers.com.
And please feel free to share how your organization and volunteers plan to celebrate Make a Difference Day with us. Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn to share your comments!
