Charitable causes are many but, for many, volunteers are often short.
According to research done by those at the YMCA, Americans' interest in charity is waning. It's why we're always thrilled when our employees take time out of their day to support those in need. That idea starts at the top as evident by the weekend activities of our company's VP of Marketing and Sales, Chris Sorensen. This past Saturday, he and his son, George, spent their afternoon volunteering for the Feed6 charity in order to help feed both the hungry and the homeless. Within one weekend, the Sorensen's were able to help the organization pack more than 68,000 meals for distribution to local food banks and homeless shelters in the Chicagoland area.
"Each person who volunteers has a specific job in the group," said the younger Sorensen. "Over 360 people showed up to help and the organization had to ship in more supplies last minute allowing the event to exceed its initial goal of 50,000 meals. It was a very fun, upbeat, and lively environment and the two hours we spent there went by quickly."
While the meals will help the cause, they won't solve everything. According to Feed6, nearly 16,000 children die from hunger-related causes every day. Still, the three million meals the company has packed has helped feed a lot of hungry people.
If you'd like to help but don't have the time to support a cause like this, you could feed 20 hungry children for the cost of a $5 latte. If you have a couple of hours of time, and a little money to spare, your help can feed as many as 100 children. If you're interested in offering your support you can find more information on how to volunteer here or donate here.
If you'd like to learn more about other charities, you can find a list of reputable organizations through the Better Business Bureau's Give.org charity portal. Regardless of what cause you support or how much you have to give, just remember that every second and every cent has the potential to impact someone in need. The Greek fabulist, Aesop, said it best.
"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted."
