Happy New Year

“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.”
~Charles Dickens

Do you experience the joy of helping others? No exercise is better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up. When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed. When you volunteer you are doing something for someone who can never repay you, so the smallest gesture of kindness, even a smile may be the change in a person’s day.

What can you do in a moment, a day, or even a year? You can help at your child’s school, you can pack bags or stock shelves at a food pantry, you can read to children at your local library, or help your neighbor shovel their snow, there is always room for more volunteering, whether employee groups, individuals, families, or any type of group. The possibilities are endless!

Why should you volunteer? It’s fun and free! You can gain experience, learn something new, and meet new people. The person you are serving will be changed, and although likely not your intent, you will probably receive the greatest benefit through helping someone else.

Every one of us has the same number of hours each day, and we choose how we spend our time. One of our programs, VOLUNTEER Lenawee!, will help you find volunteer opportunities.
Contact us at 517.263.4696, email paula@lenaweecf.com, or stop by our office at 1440 W. Maumee St., Adrian. We can help you find a volunteer fit just for you.

So instead of struggling with your New Years’ resolution this year, think of how you will make Lenawee County a kinder place to live. Will it be a smile, maybe being a better listener, or lending a helping hand? Scott Adams said, “Remember there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.”

Connect with the thousands of Lenawee citizens, who are volunteering every day to make our community a better place. Let’s start a ripple in 2023 that will grow into a surge of caring for one another!
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Cynthia Heady is the Director of Development & External Engagement of the Lenawee Community Foundation. Your Community Foundation assists individuals, corporations, and organizations in fulfilling their charitable goals for our community. For information on how to get involved with the Lenawee Community Foundation and help to build a better community, call 517.263.4696 or contact cynthia@lenaweecf.com. We look forward to working with you.