Make Volunteering Your 2019 Resolution

Each New Year inspires new resolutions. Some people choose to make a change in their own lives, while others vow to make a difference within their community. You can accomplish both by resolving to volunteer more in 2019. Here’s how:

• Volunteering allows you to try new things. Are you interested in working with children and teens, but aren’t sure in what capacity? You can assist with various activities at Mecum House, our runaway shelter for youth ages 10 to 17, or either of our group homes, New Beginnings for girls and the Youth Development Center for boys.
• Volunteering lets you utilize your skills for a bigger cause. Planning and preparing a meal for 20 or more people is simpler than you might think. and you don’t have to it alone You can prepare a meal wiith a group of friends or co-workers. You can order prepared food or pizza. Donating meals to the shelter at the Lighthouse Sheakley Center for Youth or Mecum House is a great way to let young people know you care about them.
• Volunteering can help you land your dream job. Time spent volunteering allows you to develop a variety of  skills and many employers value it as much as paid work. For example, if you’re interested in a career in education, you can volunteer as a tutor at Lighthouse Community School in Madisonville or Paint Creek Academy in Bainbridge.
• Volunteering is good for your health! A 2017 study conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of UnitedHealth Group found that volunteering provides health and wellness benefits to the volunteer. According to the study, volunteers say they feel better – physically, mentally, and emotionally – than non-volunteers, and their stress levels are lowered after volunteering.
• Throughout our 50 years, we’ve been privileged to work with amazing volunteers. We can’t fulfill our mission  without your help. Lighthouse Youth & Family Services benefitted from over 7,920 volunteer hours provided by 606 adults, students, companies, and foundations within our community in 2018.

If you’re interested in making volunteering your 2019 resolution, please click here or contact Tessa Barnard, Volunteer Coordinator, at (513) 487-7122 or tbarnard@lys.org. .