SWIVEL’s Post

I volunteered at The Hoboken Shelter, and it was an awesome experience. It taught me how even my (1 person) participation can make a difference to those in need, and importantly making things easy for everyone so that people can utilize the services effectively! I spent the day sorting through donations, which included separating three HUGE bags of bread donated by local bakeries. This task involved separating the good bread from the stale. After that, I teamed up with another volunteer and made sure that pastries, soap bars, and other food items were portioned properly so that people could easily collect and use them. Putting hygiene protocols into action makes a difference between people consuming and adhering to them. It’s all about making things easy- not just about access or education. I also helped with behind-the-scenes efforts in washing kitchen towels and aprons for the staff and volunteers. It’s not just help for the needy. This experience taught me how much of a difference even just one person volunteering can make - drops make an ocean. I also learned that one should focus on operations and make things easy for all involved so that adherence is effective. Most importantly, I made friends with other volunteers, and it was overall a fun experience that involved giving back to my community. Make an impact in someone’s life today. Be a Do-Gooder and get involved- lead through action! #Volunteering #DoGooder #CommunityService

Today, we celebrate the power of giving back. At IEI, we believe in protecting not just our clients, but our community too. Whether it's safeguarding your family or supporting a cause, we're here to make a difference together. 🤝💙 #InternationalDayOfCharity #InsuranceForGood #CommunityCare #GiveBack #ProtectWhatMatters #IEIBrokers

The people that our local community kitchens support are not just "homeless people". Community kitchens and food banks are the back bones of our community that support all those in need of support. Many of our nations veterans and elders, children and hardworking single parents use the kitchen to fill the gaps. Not only fill the gaps, but for some the weekly food boxes and nightly meals are all they have to survive. With rising costs of living with everything from the gas we use to go to work, to the boots we pull ourselves up with food kitchens are in demand. The demand is something that is hard to keep up with on fixed budgets and limited donations. In the coming weeks that demand will increase as youth will be home more as school lets out. The meals once provided in the school system now fall on the already stretched budgets of the average American household. Lets do what we can to empower and have compassion to gain awareness about who uses the food kitchens and what we can do to help. Even if it's just slinging a few boxes of tomatoes to help out during a deliver. It is a step. #giveback #volunteer #communitywork #foodpantry #careergrowth #personalgrowth #investment #leadership #communityleadership #leadershipdevelopment

KCHC needs your help…

“Unhoused”…not having a home to return to, or sleep in… waiting hours in line for food or for a cot to sleep on… not knowing where the next meal will come from or if you’ll be in line in time to receive a bunk to slumber in… I spent a motivating weekend with 35+ middle schoolers, volunteering our time & serving our community- some who may be without basic needs - food, shelter, security - as well as the elderly population who may need support in other ways. We learned about the The Carying Place, Inc. - providing a home to unhoused families with kids for 6mos while they get back on their feet, budget, take financial courses & save Oak City Cares - 274 people (kids too) arrived for breakfast Saturday- some waiting hours for doors to open to receive sustenance and respite A woman asked me for a garbage bag before she left - the recent rains had soaked all of her clothes in the woods & she needed a bag to put them in These engagements and interactions left a deep impression on me - we can do much to help support this community and uplift them. Oak City Cares (who offers washing machines to wash clothing, showers, food/drink, charging stations, books) provides support, shelter, & aid -3 meals on weekends- to those in need. Quite a few folks in attendance have jobs, but are struggling to make ends meet with the high costs of unaffordable housing… Many sleeping on simple cots or bunks at the shelter are working but are unhoused and cannot pay the rent/bills thus they return nightly to the shelter to sleep in a safe place The shelter sleeps 95 men, (almost 50 In one big room) & 45 women in another building. Our team wrapped 250+ blankets/sheets to place in each sleep spot. If you’re local - I’m collecting items: —towels/washcloths (can be pre owned), —travel size body wash/shampoo/soap —Socks (a huge need for these!) I will drop these donations off to the shelter in next 2 weeks. Folks may be without a home currently, but they are not without Hope. Many people are in need. We do not know everyone’s story or the battle they’re fighting. #service #giveback #community #Hope Dorcas Ministries A Place at the Table

🫂 Some how some way- diversity became relagated to just the physical i.e. visible things that may represent us. 💥 My friends that is just one faction and fraction of who we really are. ✨️ Let's not forget we are so much more than the eye can see. 🎉 And NEVER forget to have fun and celebrate all that you are. ❓️What's your sweet treat combo? (and let me know if it's not up here.) #INVERSITY #InversitySolutions #perfect_or_happy #belonging #bebrave #consciouscommunication #courageousconversations #diversitydonedifferently #diversityandinclusion #diversitywithoutdivision #donuts #foodforthought #friday #fridayfunday

Rather than a self-congratulatory post next week, this is a call to arms today. #volunteering at #christmas time is great fun and the perfect opportunity to get to better know your #community,. Here are some ways to help out – 1.     Don’t forget your #neighbours. Loneliness and sadness are common and often go unnoticed. A cup of tea and chat can make all the difference. ‘Knock on’! 2.     Some people are happy to be a #volunteer but struggle to get to places they are needed. Giving volunteers a lift can enable them to support others. 3.     If you can’t spare time on Christmas Day, then remember that the days after Christmas can be even harder for people struggling when all the good will of strangers evaporates into post-prandial somnolence. This can be the most valuable time to reach out a hand. 4.     Remember that volunteer support is needed 24 hours a day – the nightshifts are the most difficult to fill and so if you are used to burning the midnight oil then your help will be much appreciated. 5.     If, like me, your head is full of ‘Baby Shark’ then end this torture by reading a poem or book for children, posting on YouTube and sharing for those kids who might not have anyone to read to them at home this Christmas Eve. All the major charities will be able to give you guidance as to where they will benefit from help if you give them a call. Also, local places of worship, food banks, your town hall are great places to find out where you can make the biggest impact. If you are struggling to get to a volunteering opportunity, then message me and our Candesic team will find a way to get you there. #Love, #Peace. #Kindness. 

Some how some way- diversity became relegated to just the physical i.e. visible things that may represent us. 💥 My friends that is just one faction and fraction of who we really are. ✨️ Let's not forget we are so much more than the eye can see. 🎉 And NEVER forget to have fun and celebrate all that you are. ❓️What's your sweet treat combo? (and let me know if it's not up here.) #INVERSITY #InversitySolutions #perfect_or_happy #belonging #bebrave #consciouscommunication #courageousconversations #diversitydonedifferently #diversityandinclusion #diversitywithoutdivision #donuts #foodforthought #friday #fridayfunday

Did you know...? This was the second year for our Adopt-A-Family program at the Boys & Girls Club of Wooster; a program to help families in need during the holidays. I have had the privilege of running/helping with such programs for many years (long before working at the Club) and one consistent request, that might surprise you, is cleaning supplies. You see; Food is pretty attainable - Food pantries of many shapes and sizes are generally pretty abundant, they along with food stamps can help a family put meals on the table. Programs to help pay housing and utility bills are generally available and there are also programs that will provide clothing and shoes... The #gap? Cleaning supplies. Every single woman I have ever spoke to in the initial conversation, after listing the things her children need and I get to the question, "what do YOU need for yourself or your home?", answers, "cleaning supplies". Every. Single. One. What woman doesn't want to have a clean home and be able to wash her children's clothes? The five Club families we helped this holiday season, thanks to a very generous donor, are stocked with assortment of cleaning supplies that will hopefully last the family a little while. I wanted to bring a moment of #awareness to this gap as we, in the nonprofit space, evaluate our programs and assess their effectiveness over last year. Do you have room to help fill this gap? #gapanalysis #nonprofitimpact #socialgood #localcommunity #woosterohio

The Essence of Giving: Through the Eyes of a Volunteer Firefighter and SAR K9 Handler As the season of giving envelops us, I just found a message on my LinkedIn to reflect on what giving truly means. So why not showing also the other side of me and my life and my journey as a volunteer firefighter and a search and rescue K9 handler? For me giving is not just about donations in the monetary sense; it is about the gift of service, time, and compassion. For me, giving means dedicating my time and skills to help those in need. Whether it's responding to a fire alarm in the dead of night (btw. my first fire alarm in 2024 was already 1.1. at 00:22 🚒) or navigating challenging terrains with my trusted K9 partner to find someone lost, it's about being there when the community needs me most. Working closely with a search and rescue dog isn't just a task; it's forming an unbreakable bond of trust and understanding. It's about giving these incredible animals the training, love, and respect they deserve so that together, we can save lives. Giving, in my eyes, is also about inspiring others. It's showing that each of us has something valuable to contribute, whether it's our time, skills, or resources. We can all be heroes in our ways. Every act of service, no matter how small, creates ripples. By sharing our stories of giving, we can ignite a passion in others to step forward and contribute, strengthening the fabric of our community. I encourage everyone to think about how they can give. It doesn't have to be grand; sometimes, the smallest acts of kindness are the most powerful. Let's support the nonprofits and causes close to our hearts and make a tangible difference in the world. #VolunteerFirefighter #SearchAndRescue #K9Handler #CommunityService #MakeADifference #GivingSeason #GivingTuesday