How are you spending your long summer days?
Everyone loves summertime because it brings warm weather and long days to do
whatever we want to with. There are a lot of good ways to spend our extra time, but
have we considered giving away some of our extra time to others in need?
Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said “our Savior gave
Himself in unselfish service. He taught that each of us should follow Him by denying
ourselves of selfish interests in order to serve others.”
As we spend our time serving others, we find so much happiness and fulfillment in
our own lives. Bringing a smile to someone else’s face automatically puts a smile on
your own. Charity is the pure love of Christ. As we strive to serve and be charitable,
we are sharing the love of Christ with others and feel it more abundantly in our own
lives as well.
So here are some ways we can follow the Savior and volunteer our extra time this
summer.
1. Meals on Wheels: Meals on Wheels is a program dedicated to providing
nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks for senior citizens living
independently. These meals and visits help those who live alone and can’t
leave to get food on their own. There are several ways to volunteer with
Meals on Wheels. You can prepare meals, make deliveries, serve food at
social events for seniors or perform safety checks. To learn more about
volunteering in your area and to sign up, visit
www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org
2. Courage Reins Therapeutic Riding: Courage Reins is a riding center dedicated
to improving the quality of life for people with disabilities through
therapeutic riding. They encourage volunteers to “just come for one.” Come
for one rider, one lesson, once a week. Courage Reins is located in Highland,
UT and looks for short term and regular volunteers based on the time
commitment you are willing to give. To learn more about volunteering and to
sign up, visit www.couragereins.org
3. Boys and Girls Club: The mission of the Boys and Girls Club of Utah is to
inspire kids to reach their full potential. They are always looking for fun
individuals who love working with kids and are willing to share their time
and talents in providing a fun and uplifting environment for kids. They ask
that volunteers commit to one hour a week for three months. To learn more
about volunteering in your area and to sign up, visit www.bgcutah.org
There are so many different ways we can reach out and help others. Whether you
volunteer with an organization or simply say hi and open a door for someone, you
can find and share joy through loving service and have even more fun with your
summer.
