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Liz L's avatar

I live in DC, a place notoriously known for wanting to do the big things (and often doing no things 🙃) but man, can I tell you about a community of people I’m a part of who are just doing SOME thing? Babysitting (after training/background checks, of course) for teen parents so they can take a parenting class. Organizing a Christmas store for local shelter residents so they can have a dignified way to be the gift givers for their families at the holidays. Heck, I regularly sit on the Beltway a couple times a year to go do a resume-building workshop with incarcerated men and women.

Is it solving world hunger? No. Are we professionals at any of these things? Also no. But it means something to each of these people (AND it means something to my kids, who are watching.)

Thank you, Sharon for both reminding us here and SHOWING us with the way you live your life and run your business the power of just doing something.

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Lindsey Brown's avatar

Wow, these are fantastic things going on in your community! Great ideas for us to take back to ours. Thank you for sharing ❤️

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Jen M.'s avatar

Hello! Curious if the community of doers you describe is an organized group? I’m wondering if there’s something similar in my own community of KC, MO - a group that’s not necessarily dedicated to a sole purpose, but dedicates time to a variety of things…

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Gina S Meyer's avatar

KCMO here! I see the value in participating in a variety of activities. It allows you to “sample” organizations to find the right one for you. I belong to Beta Sigma Phi, an adult women’s sorority, with world headquarters here. We choose a different organization to support every month. Maybe you’d like that?

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Jen M.'s avatar

Thanks for the tip! I’ll look into Beta Sigma Phi. Yes, I’m currently a CASA volunteer but looking for one-off opportunities. Did a bit of Googling and there appear to be a few organizations in KC that act as a database of sorts to match you with opportunities/organizations that fit your criteria.

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Gina S Meyer's avatar

CASA volunteers are some of the biggest heroes! Thank you so much for doing that!

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Danielle Fuller's avatar

Also from KCMO and moving back (from Scotland 🥲) next week! Will def look into this for when I'm back and settled.

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Liz L's avatar

I am VERY lucky to live in a very engaged neighborhood where people rally around each other in things like a Facebook neighborhood group (don’t worry there’s plenty of complaining there too, haha). I’m also part of a religious community that is in our neighborhood and most of the people who attend there live in the neighborhood, too. (I fully recognize this is probably more common in urban communities.)

This may sound weird, but the nonprofit job board, Idealist, might be a good way to find what nonprofits are working near you. I’ve found that when you offer to volunteer for an org (and truly offer to do whatever they actually *need*) you’ll end up building community with the other volunteers and/or staff. Maybe a place to start?

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Jen M.'s avatar

Thanks for the tip on Idealist! I’ve been browsing for volunteer opps in my area. Never knew about it or any of the other resources that aggregate volunteer opps that I discovered as a result of Sharon’s post and member comments. Another reason I love this very engaged Governerds community.

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