A simple act of kindness can be enough to change a personâs life. From the tiniest village in Africa to the streets of your hometown, opportunities to better the world exist and present challenges to those who are brave enough to accept them.
The giving of oneâs time, talents, and body is selfless and rewarding. People from all walks of life and economic statuses can become an âEveryday Philanthropist,â a term created by author Nicole Bouchard Boles by opening up their hearts, homes, and minds to making a difference.
The young mother and expert on low-cost and no-cost giving knows a thing or two about the human spirit. She has transformed hers through research and volunteerism. Donating time to worthy causes helped her gain a better understanding of the world around her and the real meaning behind philanthropy.
In fact, the underlying theme of her book is that one does not have to be wealthy to be influential. Boles notes that many people envision a philanthropist as âa grand lady in pearls writing out checks with a lot of zeros,â but that is far from the truth. Anyone can leave their mark on the world as long as they are willing to try. Bank account balances do little to dismay the power of a good intention.
Throughout How to Be an EVERYDAY Philanthropist: 330 Ways To Make A Difference In Your Home, Community, and Worldâ’At No Cost, readers are given ample opportunity to dip a toe into the wading pool of volunteerism. Here are some of the ideas suggested by the author:
- Sign an online petition.
- Knit hats for the homeless.
- Donate your unwanted formal wear.
- Recycle your old bicycle.
- Help out on Election Day.
- Ditch disposable and use cloth or canvas grocery bags.
- Eliminate junk mail waste by getting off of mailing lists.
Small commitments like these can eventually lead to bigger endeavors like the experiences written about by author Pam Grout.  Her book, The 100 Best Volunteer Vacations to Enrich Your Life includes many free opportunities to make a difference as well as providing information about programs that charge a fee. Being a lighthouse keeper or working at the legendary Patch Adamâs Gesundheit! Institute are a few of the ways that people can roll up their sleeves and get involved with helping others.
Grout, who has written several books for National Geographic, sees the spiritual side of travel. She believes that the closer you get to the people you meet on your journey, the better. She states, âPeople in developing countries have a depth of joy, a richness to which those of us consumed with material things are often blind. The question persists: Who ends up getting helped the most when you travel to help others?â Chances are the person that she is referring to is you, an âEveryday Philanthropistâ.
According to a report put out by the Corporation for National & Community Service, volunteering has measurable benefits. People that give their time and resources to others are happier, healthier, have better control over their lives, demonstrate high levels of self-esteem and greater life satisfaction.
If you are looking for a way to improve the quality of your life, volunteerism is one of the quickest routes to a better sense of overall well-being. Grab a friend or family member and spend a few hours at your local soup kitchen. The people that you help will be glad that you did.
Charissa Arsaoui is a freelance writer for ChickSpeak, Buzzine, DisFUNKshion Magazine, Student Stuff, and a guest contributor for Wisebread. She loves thrift related topics and can spot a bargain a mile away.
Author: Charissa
Charissa is into frugal living and saving money.
