Helping others is an important part of the fabric of human society. If you watch the news on any given day, you can see exactly the kind of horrible conditions parts of the world fall into when that important fact is forgotten. When we help others, we help ourselves, as well. By giving back to our communities, we help make them, the people in them, and ourselves better. This post was sponsored by Lunchbox, however all opinions are 100% my own.
Helping Others – Big or Small, Help is Help
Helping others doesn't have to be spending all day at a shelter or building houses with Habitat for Humanity – although that is important work. It can be something as simple as giving a cup of coffee to the homeless guy you pass by or taking all those clothes that you know darn well you aren't going to wear to the thrift store.
Helping others can be the smallest thing to the grandest undertaking. It's all about your spirit. If you have a giving spirit, there's an opportunity to help someone everyday. Here are just a few ways, large and small, that you can make helping others a reality in your life.
Donate Your Time
Time is one of the most precious commodities we have, and sharing it can be an excellent way to make the world around you a better place. If you have a food bank in your area, why not stop in and ask about volunteering. Maybe you love baseball, and there's a local little league team in need of a coach. If you love to read, why not volunteer at the library to help others with their reading adventures. There's really no end to the possibilities if you're willing to give up a little time.
Donate Your Stuff
Admit it. There's a metric ton of stuff in your house that you either haven't gotten around to purging or listing on eBay or Amazon. Instead of hoarding those size three jeans that will absolutely never been worn again, or listing that Xbox, why not donate them to your local Goodwill or Salvation Army? Both of these organizations use the profits from the sale of items you don't want to help fund things like shelters, job training, and more.
Donate Your Spirit
A giving spirit is a gift that keeps on giving, and its one of the ways that we can all make helping others a reality. It doesn't take much to brighten someone's day. When you're in line at Starbucks, pick up the tab for the person behind you. That homeless guy you pass everyday who's somehow managing to make it through the winter? Grab a coffee and a hot soup for him. It's all about a spirit that is giving and open.
Helping Yourself
When you make helping others a regular practice, you help yourself as well. Your spirit grows. Your capacity for love and empathy grows. It's a beautiful thing. You know what else is a beautiful thing? Ice cream!
How did we go from helping others to ice cream, you ask? It's simple really. I try to make giving a regular part of my lifestyle, and when I help others in a way that I think is really above and beyond, I'll give myself the green light to dive into some chocolate chip cookie dough goodness. Hey, nobody knows I'm rewarding my own good deeds. No harm, no foul.
I'm all about the frozen dairy nom noms, so it doesn't take much for me to add more ice cream to my #SummerOfJoy. They way I figure it, with all the helping I'm doing, the ice cream I eat just makes a summer of joy for everyone. I'm very zen like that.
Right now Green Light wants to help everyone have a summer of joy, as well. Green Light is all about finding ways to make the world a better place by helping others. To encourage more people to join Green Light and get in on helping others, Green Light is offering the chance for one lucky person to win a year's worth of ice cream.
It's fun and easy to enter for a chance to win 365 delicious days of ice cream. Simply take the Green Light quiz to learn more about the frozen treats that are being provided for the campaign, and then enter to win. It's an interesting little quiz. For example, did you know that Rainforest Alliance is a conservation group dedicated to preserving our world's rainforests? I sure didn't!
Green Light is an organization that I've instantly fallen in love with. It's dedicated to the idea that helping others is something we should all do in some way, shape, or form, and I love that. I'd love for you to visit the Green Light website to learn more about them. While you're there, enter to win some serious ice cream action.
Which of your favorite ice creams will you enjoy all year long?
David Fultner says
I have been collecting Currior and Ives for years.thanks for the information.
Sarah L says
I volunteer at a food bank twice a month and at the gardens once a week.
Sarah L says
Too bad I don’t live where they offer the contest.
dawn says
oh this is super cool. My mom feeds the homeless every Saturday with her church. I have been thinking to start participating or volunteering for anything to give back. thanks for the share.
Kristina says
Service and volunteer work is always important. There is always room to serve wherever we are.
Kelly Hutchinson says
I feel like a huge slacker because I have not volunteered anywhere in so long. Thanks for reminding me how important it is to serve.
Liz Mays says
This is an awesome message. I love the idea of helping others every day in simple ways like paying for someone in line behind you.
Chelley @ AisForAdelaide says
I love this! We all need to give back as we can when we can. I donate my breastmilk to babies in need and run for charity! I wish I had money to give, but we barely make it as it is!
Dee Mauser says
You had me at ice cream. LOL. What a great program.
Shauna says
I love helping others. Over the Summer, Little Man and I take the lawn mower to all the neighbors and mow… Figure it is an act of kindness, especially for those neighbors with Hubby’s in the military 🙂 I would love to win, too, BTW
Amy says
Yes please! I know my family would love a year’s worth of ice cream!
Mama to 5 BLessings says
What a great concept! I love ice cream, would so love to win this for a year – yum!
Brandy says
Green ice cream? That looks yummy. I like the, what is it, a cherry on top? YUM. I love the idea of winning a years worth of ice cream for the kids!
Seattle Travel Blogger says
I wish that I lived closer so that I could donate my time. I feel so bad for these people who lost everything.
Sabrina @ Dinner, then Dessert says
Giving back to the community is one of the most important things you can do! Thanks for your contributions!
Wendy @ ABCs and Garden Peas says
Good deeds AND a year’s worth of ice cream? Sounds like my kind of community service! Imagine the party you could throw for the neighborhood!
Vera Sweeney says
I wish I was able to volunteer more, it is such a great way to give. A years wroth of ice cream sounds amazing!
Amber Edwards says
What an awesome concept! I love that they are giving back and encouraging everyone else to give to others as well! What a brilliant incentive!
Tammy Roy says
We go threw all of our closets every season and donate what we are not going to wear. It is a great way for the kids to learn to give back. I like to donate to the local food bank once a month as well.
Ann Bacciaglia says
A years worth of ice cream would be amazing. I try to donate as much as i can to our local charities. I volunteer at the animal shelter a few times a month.
Aubrey says
Time is one of the best things you can donate for sure. Being a parent though time is scarce. You don’t need to do big things all the time to be a help.
Julie Wood says
I would love a years worth of ice cream! we love it at my house! I try and donate as much as I can to local charities. I just gave some money to a family who lost their 16 year old son to drowning. It is so heartbreaking to lose a child!
Nancy @ Whispered Inspirations says
Wow, a year’s worth? Sounds amazing, I so want this!
Patti Hess says
I like the Nutty Buddy’s
pattifritz2000 at yahoo dot com
thanks