Volunteering for Holidays

If you take the time to think about words like “giving,” “volunteering,” and “charity,” a slew of quotes and phrases may come to mind. It is better to give than to receive. A season of giving… You may even remember a quote from Henry David Thoreau, “One is not born into the world to do everything but to do something.” This is a good reminder for us all – every little bit does make a difference. No matter if we are speaking in terms of charitable donations or hours volunteered at local charities and support organizations.

Volunteering for the holidays can be a heartwarming activity by yourself or in the company of friends or family. First, think about this question – What is volunteerism? What does volunteerism mean to you? Perhaps visions of volunteering at a soup kitchen come to mind. Maybe you see yourself helping to organize a charity gala or other big benefit.

Places to Volunteer Your Time and Talents

If you are wondering how you can get started or where you should volunteer your time, you are not alone. Many of us want to do something, but we don't know where to start.

Some great places to volunteer, especially around the holidays, include:

• Animal shelters
• Food banks
• Homeless shelters
• Hospitals and medical centers 
• Orphanages
• Senior citizens centers and nursing homes
• Soup kitchens
• Toys for Tots and similar programs

Additionally, some meaningful community service efforts may be another way for you to get involved in the well being of your community and  areas. Consider cleaning up parks, roads, and public areas, serving as a mentor, or even giving your time through a program for underprivileged children.

If you are still looking for ideas in your local area, check to see if you can find a volunteer network to connect you with a cause or a group in need. Volunteer Match and Great Nonprofits are online services that can help you find a charity or important cause where you can volunteer your time and assistance in your area.

A great way to find volunteer opportunities is through the United Way. Give, Advocate, Volunteer. With its network of over a thousand community based United Ways, they are able to coordinate individuals, communities and businesses to work together to make stronger communities and a stronger world. If time is your concern, remember that you can also volunteer online through the United Way.



Volunteer with the Red Cross.

Helping Our Neighbors in Need

Just a month ago we suffered through one of the greatest storms on the upper East Coast due to the high winds and heavy rains of Hurricane Sandy. Many families were without power for days, if not a week or more. The American Red Cross and the Humane Society NY and NJ work to gather supplies to help disaster victims, families, individuals and pets, make it through these tough days until their power is restored and their homes are repaired. These organizations need volunteers, supplies and water.



Pets make great
volunteers for the elderly.

Another way to contribute time is to help an elderly neighbor clear away debris from the storm, or assist with other small tasks that may be too difficult for an older person to handle. Make the time to visit shut-ins and the elderly in local nursing homes and hospice care units to bring a smile to those who may be lonely or depressed.

If your family has a dog and you have some free time on your hands, you might also consider training your pet as a therapy dog. These well-trained, friendly canines bring joy to young children and senior citizens alike.

It’s Never Too Late to Lend a Helping Hand

My first memories of volunteering date back to high school at Bethlehem Catholic, where we had to satisfy 20 hours of community service to graduate (or perhaps it was every year – the memories are just a bit fuzzy). My friend and I coached a little league soccer team and I also tutored younger kids to help them in school. I am sure I volunteered at other points, doing other things, but these are the most memorable occasions.

If you have a hospital near you, you might also be able to serve as a medical volunteer. Food and clothing drives can also be meaningful ways to volunteer time and energy.

Even if you only have a little time to dedicate, your actions speak louder than words. Giving an hour or two of your time once or twice around the holidays to help those less fortunate… the emotional rewards are greater than any holiday gift you can buy.


By Kathryn M. D’Imperio
Contributing Writer

FamilyWize Receives Common Good Award for Savings on Prescription Discounts

The wonderful aspect of working at FamilyWize is being able to see first hand all the good this company is doing.  Even with the healthcare reform in progress—there are still millions who are struggling to get their prescription medications and receive proper healthcare.  But every day, FamilyWize and the United Ways are making a difference in people’s lives with free prescription medicine discount cards.

Not to toot our own horn, but to give you insight on what these cards are doing in towns just like yours, I want to share with you some FamilyWize and United Way news!  This is just one example of what is happening across the country.

Partnership Hits Close to Home in a BIG Way!

Dennis Carmen, President and CEO of the United Way of Greater Plymouth County (in MA), knows to the dollar how much impact the free FamilyWize prescription cards that their United Way distributes has had on the area.  As of June 26, this one United Way has saved individuals in this county over $875,000.  The impact is huge and growing daily. You can even watch the savings change by the second on the United Way of Plymouth County’s website.

Carol Brian, VP of Partner Support receiving
Common Good Award from CEO Dennis Carmen

Recently Carol Brian, our Vice President of Partner Support, journeyed up to Plymouth County Massachusetts on June 6th to attend the 90^th Annual Meeting of the United Way of Greater Plymouth County.   FamilyWize was honored with the Common Good Award in the area of Health.   We were the only non-local company so honored. Carol accepted the award on behalf of FamilyWize.

Mr. Carmen stated, “For a community this size, the savings we provide on medicine for people is significant.” Carmen pointed out, “FamilyWize makes it possible for our neighbors who are struggling, many of them older folks; to buy both the medicine they need plus pay for necessities like food, utilities, clothing, etc. This is a phenomenal alliance with almost 1,000 local United Ways like ours, nationwide, but it is felt so strongly locally.”

Carmen went on to say, “It’s truly wonderful to be able to honor such a partnership that works so directly.  These free cards we distribute have been used about 55,000 times and give an average savings of over 30%.  For a person who might take $500 or $600 worth of medicine a month, think of how much they save.  We’ll soon have saved $1 million dollars with a simple free card we give out.”

United Ways like the one in Greater Plymouth County are amazing partners for this grassroots effort,” states Dan Barnes, co-founder and CEO of the FamilyWize Community Partnership.  “We need partners like them to reach all those people who don’t even know that this kind of assistance is available to them no matter what their age or income is.  These are savings negotiated on behalf of the 2 million people who used our discount drug card in 2011.  No one should hesitate to get a card and see how much they can save."

Isn’t that amazing!!!  Imagine saving your community $1 million dollars in prescription medicines.  As of April 2012, the free FamilyWize cards have helped more than 4 million people save over $345 million.  But as the saying goes, “It takes a village to a raise a child.”  But, we know it only takes one person to make a difference in another’s life.

Part of what Familywize does is help individuals like you to pay it forward!  It takes just a minute of your time to get a FamilyWize United Way free medication discount card and pass it out to your co-workers, friends, family, church; the potential is limitless.  You can go online to www.familywize.org and Get a Card or call us for a free Rx card at 800-222-2818.

An even easier option now to get a discount drug card is to text “Family” to 700700.  A text message will be sent to your phone that you can show to the pharmacist at one of the 65,000 participating pharmacies to receive your discount automatically.

Our cards are free, but we need your help in reaching the millions who need help with their brand name and generic medicines!

For more information about how you can help or to find out more about the FamilyWize company visit www.FamilyWize.org or Facebook.com/familywize.

Thank you for helping us to reach one more person!

Donna Cornelius
Online Marketing Manager

Big Tweet - United Way's Day of Action

ARE YOU READY TO TWEET!?

It is time to stand up and shout Live United!!
 
If you read Monday's blog then you already know why you need to tweet.  If not, let me tell you why June 21st is so special!

All across the nation tomorrow, the United Way of America will be organizing thousands of volunteers for their United Way Day of Action.

Why is this year so special?  This year's Day of Action falls on the 125 anniversary of the United Way movement.  That's pretty special...

Let's keep a good thing going!

Join United Way on June 21st for The Big Tweet.  Get engaged by sharing your volunteer experience through a tweet!  Tweet @ UnitedWay with the hashtag #LIVEUNITED and #iamthechange to let United Way and the rest of America (and maybe even the world) know what YOU did to become the change through United Way volunteer opportunities.

Want your shout to be heard EVEN LOUDER? "Like" United Way on Facebook, write on its wall, and post a picture to demonstrate what you are doing to make a difference in your community.

If you have not pledged to put your United Way volunteer hat on yet, IT'S NOT TOO LATE!  You can still count yourself in and become one of the more than 50,000 people who have counted themselves in to get involved in a huge nationwide volunteer effort.

Guess what?  WE want to see what you are doing, too! Tweet to @FamilyWize to let us know what YOU are doing tomorrow.  Post a picture on our Facebook wall and be sure to include the United Way you support.  We will then post all of the pictures we receive to a board on our Pinterest page!

Be the change.  Be a United Way volunteer.

United Way of America volunteers for the Big Tweet.

Krysta W.

"I AM CHANGE" - I AM A VOLUNTEER

I always say, "When you are too busy for people, you are too busy doing the wrong thing."

So many times we get so busy between work, family, friends, WORK, and the many other activities -  we forget those around us.  The connection of one person to another brings not only hope to the person being helped, but also joy in our own lives.

United Way's Day of Action volunteers.

On June 21st we all have an opportunity to do something for someone intentionally through United Way's Day of Action.  United Way is one of our partners for the FamilyWize free prescription discount drug card.  They impact people's lives on a daily basis through education, income, and health.

So what can you do?

Contact your local United Way.  (Use our Where to Get a Card page to find a local participating United Way or go to www.UnitedWay.org and enter your zip code at the top.)  Then give them a call and ask them if they are participating in the United Way Day of Action on Thursday, June 21st.  Or ask them how you can be part of their volunteer program and be "the change" in someone's life.    

Just so you know - I walk the talk.  I am working with a group of people right now to raise money for a young twenty-six year old mother who needs a heart transplant.  This group is helping on many levels - helping her find a more affordable place to live and a more affordable car payment.  Teaching her proper nutrition to improve her current physical state as well as raising money!  Just from the little things, she shared that she doesn't feel alone in this journey and has come to trust our group!  For me to help ONE person not feel like they are alone in this big old world is worth everything!

It doesn't have to be a big project.  You don't have to do it alone.  Get a group of people together. Call your local United Way and work on a project for a day or for a week.  Just become a community volunteer so that you can make a difference in another person's life.

The joy you receive out of it - is just as HUGE as the act you are doing!

So remember Thursday, June 21 United Way Day of Action!  Please share with us what you are doing to CHANGE lives.  You can also be part of the United Way's Big Tweet (check back for details on Wednesday)!

Share this blog with your friends and get them involved too!!!

Donna Cornelius
Online Marketing Manager