'Tis the Season of Giving

'Tis the season of giving, and if we don't typically volunteer our time on a regular basis, most of us find ourselves at least dropping a toy by the fire station or participating in a project to provide a magical Christmas morning for families who have hit on hard times. If only every month were like December, we sometimes think, flushed with the spirit of sharing, well-wishing and altruism that flows during this season.

Why do we get so much from giving? And why do we so often stop once January beckons us into the new year?

Maybe the best New Year’s resolution is to stay the course. Opportunities specific to the holidays may fade away, but the need for mentors, homebuilders, cooks and servers, teachers, listeners, organizers and helping hands goes on and on.

At LeaderStat, we feel fortunate to volunteer together. Over the holidays, we participate in the Salvation Army’s Adopt-a-Family program. This invaluable experience allows us to work together to create a truly memorable Christmas Day for a family in our community, particularly for the children. Throughout the year, we serve meals together at the YWCA Family Center and volunteer with other organizations as well. Many of our employees volunteer independently in areas close to their hearts, supporting causes such as Alzheimer’s Disease, cancer, literacy, and food drives, just to name a few. We all agree that we are the lucky ones for having the opportunity to engage in purposeful work that fills our hearts and strengthens our community.

So why volunteer year-round?

1. Better than Prozac

We intuitively know volunteering our time and energies seems to benefit us over and above the intended benefit to the receivers. It is no surprise, then, that studies show altruistic giving helps combat depression and provides a sense of purpose. In fact, a Harvard Medical School study reports that people who embarked on weekly volunteering experienced a "happiness hike" comparable to going from poverty-level wages to a $75,000 - $100,000 salary!

2. A great way to model for our children

Want your kids to respect you? Maybe you will still get eye-rolling as you round them up for the Habitat for Humanity Walls Build, but by the time they hit the freshman dorm, they will take pride in parents who gave of themselves, and may even boast about the times they helped out.

Want them to be happy? In a large study, "The Troubled Journey," researchers found that children who volunteered were less likely to manifest risky behaviors. It only makes sense - feeling useful is a primary human need. Children are no different in this way.

3. It can change lives

Private volunteering, thoughtfully done, is a time-honored way of offering others a boost, a hand up when they are stuck in a destructive cycle or are just experiencing a rough patch. In 2012, the bestseller, Toxic Charity, created a stir by criticizing churches for perpetuating the very cycle of dependence and poverty they sought to alleviate, through the way in which they gave.  Even worse is consigning the fulfillment of social needs to agencies that just dispense government handouts. The book makes the case for thoughtful volunteering, strategic giving -- giving that isn't just "charity," but has the impact of promoting independence and growth.

If we were all out in the community teaching, mentoring and holding the hand of even one individual until they are able to do for themselves, we could start an avalanche of "good."

Wondering how to volunteer? If you belong to a church, the opportunities surround you. Many county United Way branches and other agencies have needs for meals on wheels volunteers, mentors for human trafficking victims, prison mission volunteers and so much more. Check out these websites for ideas:

• http://www.columbusmonthly.com/content/stories/2013/11/44-ways-to-give.html
• http://idealist.org
• http://www.volunteermatch.org

LeaderStat wishes you and your families a fulfilling season of giving and receiving!