Cure For The Summer Time Blues

What better way to cure the summer time blues that giving back to your community??  If you are down and out because the heat has you staying indoors, then perhaps you should get out there and volunteer, preferably in air conditioning.

I am in Junior League and this year, I have the honor of being Community Chair for Faith In Action Caregivers-West Austin.  The good news is, that they are a NATIONAL organization.  Training is only an hour and half and you get to pick how often you want to volunteer  You can even sign up for shifts the day before if your schedule is sporadic.

What is the great non profit you ask?  Well, you get to drive the elderly to their appointments or assist them in grocery shopping. It really is designed to help them maintain some sort of independence.  Some of these people have no family in or around Austin.  Some have no family at all.  Sad, I know.  Not only are you helping them run their errands, but you are giving them companionship that we, as humans, so desperately need for sound mind.  

You can drive around the same person each week or month or sign up for a different person each time.  I plan on volunteering for this organization long after my placement is fulfilled.

No matter where you are reading this blog from, you are likely able to find a branch near you.

For more information on Faith In ActionCaregivers, please visit:  http://driveasenior.org

There are so many great places to volunteer during the summer.  And places will even let you bring your kids, if you have them, to teach them to get involved while they are young!  Some other great places to volunteer in the summer are:

SunShine Camps on Austin http://www.sunshinecamps.org

Big Brother, Big Sister  http://www.bbbs.org

SPCA  http://www.centraltexasspca.org

Girlstart http://www.girlstart.org

Just to name a few.  If you have any spare time this summer I strongly encourage you to give back.  It's the right thing to do and you get back what you put out there into the world.  If you are always helping others then you will always find others helping you when you need it most.  I believe that we are put on this earth to help those who are unable to help themselves!! Happy volunteering!

Xoxo,

B

Give A Little

Giving back and doing things for others NEVER goes out of style!  Volunteering is something that I am super passionate about!  If you have time to read blogs (ahem) and Facebook stalk your ex boyfriend from 1999,  then you likely have time to give back.  I don't just mean at the local Salvation Army serving food to the needy (although,  that's a great way to give back, and I encourage you to do so).  If someone in your office is having a rough week,  why not pick up their favorite treat and leave them a little note on their desk, even go a step further and do one of their least favorite job duties that day!  Not just the needy, need love. It's contagious, the more you give, the more you get!  And it's pretty cool knowing that you can turn someones entire day around by one act of kindness!

I have always believed that TO THOSE WHO MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH IS EXPECTED.  If you have a roof over your head,  food on the table, fresh water in your glass, a significant other that treats you well and or great friends/family, then you already have it all.  Help others that may not be so fortunate.  When you do,  your beauty radiates from the inside out,  that's far better and way more stylish than any new pair of shoes! 

XOXO,
B

As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, and one for helping others. ~ Audrey Hepburn