A Love Letter to All the Volunteers Out There...
By Bridgette Stumpf, Executive Director at NVRDC
I have been thinking a lot about giving. Last year in August, I launched a request to 40 people I love to select an organization where I could contribute an act of kindness. The goal being that I do 40 meaningful acts of kindness before I turn 40 in August 2024.
During this process, I have reached out to several community-based organizations and have offered support to many that I love (shout out to Comfort Cases, Maryland SPCA, Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland, Dyslexia Tutoring Program, and others to come)! It was amazing to see other folks take this idea to heart and two people even expressed wanting to do this for their next milestone birthday. My own friend selecting an organization for me to volunteer at, started doing her own regular volunteering at Meals on Wheels where she lives in Tennessee. A close friend even asked for 39 random acts of kindness to honor her husband that we lost unexpectedly last summer. I have noticed that when we share our own commitments to spread kindness, others are inspired to do the same. Kindness really is contagious.
This got me thinking about all the folks in my life that give their time, energy, and talents without expecting reciprocity. Given my work at NVRDC, what quickly came to mind were all the countless volunteers who have contributed thousands of hours of free services to support survivors and our organization over the past 12 years. There have been several board members who committed to hundreds of hours of services to lead our visioning and org health with no expectation of compensation. The truth is, acts of kindness are all around me. Yet, it took really diving into my own personal commitment to give, to fully understand the value and impact of these acts of service.
And even when we expect nothing in return—giving to others and volunteering is actually a significant benefit to us! Research shows that those volunteering live longer, potentially limiting risk for dementia, can increase connection and life satisfaction, can strengthen heart health, and supports feeling a greater sense of purpose and identity. Personally, I have felt these benefits of giving to others throughout the past 5 months in ways that were unexpected. After each volunteering session, I experience a deep sense of joy and appreciation for my own life, family, and friends. Giving has deepened my gratitude and purpose. It has also heightened my understanding of the need around us for so many who face deep inequities impacting their ability to volunteer regularly. This experience has underscored my perspective that volunteering opportunities must be accessible to the community and the importance of honoring and celebrating those who engage in giving within our organizations.
So, as some are reflecting on those we love and appreciate this month, this is my love letter to all the volunteers out there participating in acts of kindness. Infusing joy, community-led contributions, and deeper connections to those around us.
Lindsey, NVRDC’s deputy director, and I have been doing many trainings on vicarious trauma and how to support those who are helpers in our communities. From this, I have learned about protective strategies to promote wellness and build vicarious resilience in teams and individuals. What we know is that practicing gratitude and connection improves our overall resiliency to face and overcome adversity. So in addition to what we know about the benefits for volunteers, giving kindness can also strengthen our own propensity for resiliency—in addition to our communities.
As it is Random Acts of Kindness Week (Feb. 11 – 17, 2024). I invite you to spread kindness in your own lives by: 1. Thanking a volunteer you know who gives their time to local causes important to your heart; 2. Share a teaching kindness curriculum with a teacher you know; or 3. Plan your own random act of kindness you can complete with family or friends during this week.
Your health, happiness, and heart will thank you!