Volunteering

Want to know how you can immediately start to make yourself feel better? Help someone else feel better!

Really!

I have found time and time again when I volunteer, that the giver is often more blessed than the receiver. Having the opportunity to serve, give, and love on someone else is a tremendous blessing that opens your own eyes and heart to what you yourself have.

Volunteering as a regular part of your life can help with your overall wellness and keep your humility in check. For me, every time I volunteer, my heart is checked, my pride is put at bay, and I am reminded of all that I should be grateful for.

Every Thanksgiving, my husband and I volunteer with The Salvation Army serving meals to the homeless and we truly are blessed by the experience.

This year, was the first time I had the role of “greeter” welcoming the guests coming in to the Blaisdell for a meal and was beyond excited. I loved looking into the eyes of the hundreds and hundreds of recipients that walked in to wish them a “Happy Thanksgiving” and “God bless” as they walked down a red carpet. It was a honor to watch them being the honored guests. Business and government leaders stood on the side of the red carpet cheering for them, shaking their hands, and watching them enter with the biggest smiles. I think they were smiling not only because they knew they were going to get a great meal, but because they felt seen, respected, loved, and uplifted.

And that lifted our spirits so much too!

If you want to start making yourself happy, make someone else happy. Sign up to volunteer anywhere. Someone needs YOU! And you may find out you needed them too!

erin’s tip

There are so many opportunities to volunteer with The Salvation Army throughout the year. Sign up this season to ring a bell at a Red Kettle, sign up as a group to raise funds together, help pack meals for Keiki, and so much more .