By Colleen Gallion
On Sundays, you can find me teaching Sunday School to the elementary school kids. One of the many things I love about my church family is that our core value is creating a place where everyone is “Free to Wonder.” Free to be filled with awe and wonder, even free to wonder what the heck we’re doing here. Whatever kind of wonder you’re up to, we want to wonder alongside you. This is why our Sunday School hour is called “Wonder Hour.” During a recent Wonder Hour, the focus was on the story of the Good Samaritan. This is the story that Jesus told when someone asked, “Who is my neighbor?” The heart of the question was, “Who am I morally obligated to care about?”
Although the question may seem jaded, I will admit that it’s one I wrestle with. Not because I believe there are people unworthy of my care, but because I have a limited reservoir of time, energy, and resources. So do you, and so does your team. When considering how you and your organization can have a meaningful impact on the community, the options can quickly become overwhelming.
If your strategy for community giving is grounded in what matters deeply to you, your team, and your community, you may discover that caring for your neighbor is an investment with generous returns. Here are some strategies to help you shift from making the obligatory purchases of World’s Finest Chocolate in the breakroom to making the world a better place.
What is your team’s lived experience?
In the nonprofit world, “lived experience” is the phrase used to describe the “why” behind the cause. I have a friend who is currently doing a fundraiser for muscular dystrophy because she has seen, firsthand, how the disease has affected the life of her best friend. That is her “why.” Supporting a cause that is close to the heart of one or more of your team members will make the work more personally meaningful.
Go from eyesore to inspiration
Is there a vacant lot full of heaven only knows what next to where you work? Do the folks on the east side of the building have windows that look out onto a wall full of graffiti? You may be surprised by how many people will get engaged in a project that has a positive visual effect on the work environment.
Make it fun
If you’re volunteering for the first time, consider partnering with an established organization and doing something fun. I recently helped to host a sign-making party for the annual walk of the National Alliance on Mental Illness Central Texas. People made signs with encouraging messages, like “We Are All Works in Progress” and “Progress over Perfection.” One team member created a playlist of songs submitted by the rest of the team, and everyone would crack up as the next song came on, guessing who had added it. Some people created signs based on the examples we provided, while others made more personal signs. Everyone had fun, learned a bit more about each other, and provided volunteer hours to an organization that needed them. Win-win!
The only wrong way to do it is not to do it
As someone who can find a way to overthink just about anything, hear me when I say, “Don’t overthink this.” Countless nonprofit organizations would love to have your team volunteer as much or as little time as they can give. Dip your toes in the waters of philanthropy; the rewards may surprise you. While you’re helping bag groceries for your local food bank, team members who don’t work together are getting to know each other. Folks see each other in a different light when they are working side by side for a shared goal. And you can’t help but feel better when you are helping folks in need.
I asked the room full of Sunday School kids, “I wonder who our neighbors are?” The answers were what you would expect. “The kids in my class.” “My friends at church.” “My dog.” The wonderful truth is that we are all each other’s neighbors, and even the smallest act of kindness makes a real difference in the world.
COLLEEN GALLION is an ICF-certified professional coach whose passion is supporting entrepreneurs and founders in building healthy and sustainable teams. For more information, visit www.gallioncoaching.com.
