Tag: Volunteer

Great Ways to Help a New Neighbor

On June 3, 2019

In Adam Gant, Blog, Charity, Philanthropy

Whenever a new neighbor moves in, it can be a particularly tough time for them as they try to settle and cope with the new environment. As a responsible neighbor, you may take it upon yourself to facilitate their comfort by doing them a few favors. There are many ways you can help ease their transition. Below are a few options to consider.

Help with heavy cleaning duties

Cleaning the house and property for the first time after moving in is a daunting task. If the neighbor has opted to do it themselves rather than hiring professional cleaners, you may offer to lend them a hand and help them with demanding tasks such as cleaning the house, clearing the compound, and arranging items in the house. Offering such help is one of many good neighborhood practices and will grant you an opportunity to get to know your neighbors better.

Sharing crucial information

As the neighbor settles down in a new area, the first few weeks can be tough for them. You may take this opportunity to provide them with some information as relates to the area, such as where to find law enforcement services, entertainment, schools, convenience stores, and other basic and utility services. Additional tips such as the general security of the area are crucial in ensuring that the neighbor settles down as seamlessly as possible. This tactic is especially useful if you have lived in the area for some time. Consider the resources you regularly use and share their locations with your new neighbors; doing so will help them feel more welcome and infomed.

Giving them a ride

In case you drive and your neighbor doesn’t, you may extend the courtesy of asking them if they are going in the same direction as you are. This favor may come in handy when helping a neighbor who travels in the area often. You may also want to extend some favors such as asking the neighbor if they need anything from the stores or supermarkets before you head back home. Minimizing the need for separate trips can help your neighbor trust you more and limit your carbon footprint.

Practice accountability

You should always endeavor to practice accountability policing over their property and family. For instance, if the neighbor’s children come back from school and find the house locked, you may have to take them in as you wait for the neighbor’s arrival. In addition, you should endeavor to watch over the neighbor’s property and ward off any would-be intruders. Practicing such acts of good neighborhood helps make your neighbor feel loved while promoting peaceful coexistence. This aspect of being a good neighbor goes beyond common courtesy; you should make your neighbor feel that you are trustworthy and reliable, thereby making them feel safe.

How To Help Charities Without Donating Money Adam Gant

How to Help a Charity Without Donating Money

By Adam Gant

On March 27, 2019

In Adam Gant, Blog, Charity, Philanthropy, Service

For those with generous hearts, supporting a cause or organization they support and believe in is fulfilling and rewarding. However, not everyone is always able to provide considerable monetary donations to charities they endorse. Naturally, there are ways to help a charity without simply giving them money, and these methods are as valuable as financial aid. Below are a few ways you can benefit your favorite charities beyond granting them donations.

Donate Time

Perhaps the most common and popular option, volunteering with a charity is a great way to get involved and benefit the organization. Charities that operate soup kitchens, for example, are often in need of volunteers to serve the food. Homeless shelters, too, require volunteers to maintain and manage the living quarters. Many organizations that provide public services or resources require volunteers to help facilitate their work. Other charities could benefit from individuals with expertise in areas such as marketing or Information Technology (IT). Your skills and free time can be used to benefit charitable organizations, and while you may need to expend time, energy, and gas to do so, you won’t be directly financing the organization’s operations.

Donate Goods

Even if your financial status limits your ability to donate money, you may still be able to donate other items. Things like clothes, shoes, books, food, and paper products are typically welcomed in a number of organizations. If you have old, functional electronics, used vehicles, or furniture you no longer use, some charities accept these items, as well. Donating these items to a charity shop or distribution center can help those organizations provide valuable resources to those in need.

Donate Blood

Organizations like the Red Cross are always in need of blood and plasma donors. Donating blood costs nothing and is used to save lives. Most people are capable of donating blood, and the process usually lasts less than half an hour. For those who are able, donating platelets is also a great way to give back; platelets are necessary for individuals undergoing chemotherapy or receiving organ transplants, so they are especially valuable.

Helping charitable organizations doesn’t need to entail a financial contribution. Instead, you can consider donating your blood, time, and unwanted goods to those in need. Doing so limits the strain on your budget while also enabling you to benefit your community.

Serving Hope with the Our Place Society

By Adam Gant

On November 17, 2016

In Adam Gant, Philanthropy

Winter is well on its way, and soon, everyone will spend their days inside with thermostats and fireplaces to keep them warm even when the snow starts falling. Anyone brave enough to stay outside will be clad in suits of armor consisting of scarves, hats, mittens, heavy coats, and layer after layer of clothes. However, not everyone is fortunate enough to have a safe place to go at night or good clothes to keep them warm in the dead of winter. Where do people who find themselves in this situation go during the cold winter months–or any other time of year, for that matter?

If they’re in Victoria, then they can go to Our Place. The Our Place Society is an inner-city community center that aims to provide relief and care for the working poor, impoverished, elderly, mentally and physically challenged, homeless, and anyone struggling with addiction. It was created in 2005 as the result of an alliance between two existing community organizations, the Upper Room Society and the Open Door, and construction on the purpose-built community center that Our Place now calls home was completed in 2007.

Today, Our Place offers a wide range of services to anyone in need. It serves over 1,500 meals a day, seven days a week; it has 45 private rooms available so people can have a safe place to sleep at night while they work toward independent living; it offers free showers and hygiene services; there are even mental, physical, and spiritual well-being options, veterinary services, educational resources, community activities like a choir, and so much more. These services offer more than just a warm meal or a bed–they offer hope to the people who need it most.

Volunteering with Our Place is a great way to help marginalized citizens of Victoria get back on their feet. It’s so rewarding to see firsthand how your work helps to elevate someone’s life, and Our Place gives you that opportunity. My own experience at Our Place involved helping to serve some of those 1500 meals a day at breakfast time. The experience showed how easy it was to help people who would normally go hungry. Working with Our Place illustrates that sometimes, the opportunity to make a big difference can be found very close to home.

For more information about Our Place, visit its website!