A 2007 study found that volunteering offers both social and health benefits. Volunteers have lower mortality rates, higher functional abilities, and less depression than nonvolunteers (www
.nationalservice.org). Volunteers often feel they receive just as much as they give.
Monetary donations can do a world of good, but some tasks can only be accomplished with hands-on help. Even if you think you don’t have much to offer, an open ear and a kind smile may make all the difference to a person in need. Don’t have much time, either? Don’t worry! Some volunteer options require very short amounts of time or one-time commitments.
How to get involved
Maybe you already have some ideas of where to volunteer in your community, but you just haven’t taken that step yet—make a pledge this April to actually get out there and sign up! If you don’t already have a favorite cause or specialized skill to offer, try www.serve
.gov to find opportunities in your area. You can search for openings based on interest, location, and time. You might also try your local library or school, as they almost always need homework helpers.
It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.
~Albus Dumbledore (J. K. Rowling)
april 19–may 20
taurus
May brings warm weather and the coming end of school for most American children. But some kids enter the summer months not knowing where they will sleep or eat, or if their parents will be able to care for them. May is National Foster Care Month. The most recent national data from the Child Welfare Information Gateway (www.childwelfare.gov/fostercaremonth) was collected on September 30, 2008, estimating that there were 463,000 children in out-of-home care at that time. About a quarter of those lived with relatives, but close to half were living in nonrelative foster family homes. Almost half of all foster children remain in the system for less than a year, highlighting the ongoing need for responsible, short-term care. Some children are placed in out-of-home care only until their original family can work through a difficult time or situation, such as chemical dependence, financial straits, or health problems. Being reunited with biological parents or family is the goal in about half of all foster care cases.
How to get involved
Interested in becoming a foster family? Visit the National Foster Parent Association at www.nfpainc.org to learn more about the challenges and rewards of foster parenting. Older individuals can volunteer to be foster grandparents through Senior Corps (www.seniorcorps.gov, click on “Foster Grandparents” under the Senior Corps Programs heading).
Those who aren’t able or interested in providing foster care can still help children in need. Go to www.fostercaremonth.org and click on the “Change a Lifetime” link (under Get Involved). Here you can find other ways to support the foster care system, whether you have a few weeks, a few hours, or just a few minutes.
We’re all very ordinary in St. Mary Mead,
but ordinary people can do the most astonishing things.
~Miss Marple (Agatha Christie)
may 20–june 20
gemini
June is probably the second-most recognizable monthly topic in this section: Gay and Lesbian Pride Month. (See October 2012 for the most publicized month dedication.) The commemoration was first declared in 2000 by President Clinton. June was chosen in remembrance of the 1969 Stonewall riots that followed a police raid at a gay bar in New York City, which many consider the starting point of the LGBT rights movement. In June 2010, President Obama expanded the designation to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. That same year saw the repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell rule for gays serving in the US military.
Legislation against hate crimes in general has made great strides in recent years. Leaders of the gay community, as well as celebrities both gay and straight, are now reaching out to LGBT youth to offer support and hope in the face of prejudice.
Another ongoing hot-button issue for the LGBT community is gay marriage. As of this writing, gay “marriage” is legal in ten countries and five US states: Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Iceland, the Netherlands (which was first in 2001), Norway, Sweden, South Africa, Spain, and Sweden; and Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont, as well as the District of Columbia. Many more states and countries recognize “civil unions” between same-sex partners; however, groups continue to push for equal marriage rights for all, regardless of gender.
How to get involved
Most cities in the Unites States host Gay Pride festivals, parades, parties, and picnics during June to celebrate diversity and tolerance. Do a simple Internet search combining “Gay Pride” and your city name to find fun and meaningful events and activities of all kinds.
Be who you are and say what you feel,
because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.
~Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel)
june 20–july 22
cancer
In most parts of the Northern Hemisphere, July is the best month to get out and enjoy Mother Nature—which is probably why July is Recreation and Parks Month. Did you know that the United States has 393 national parks, hosting 275 million visitors each year? Yellowstone in Wyoming was the first national park, designated by President Grant in 1872. The National Park Service also maintains other landmarks and heritage areas to preserve our natural and national history. The first state park was Yosemite in California (now a national park), designated by President Lincoln in 1864. All fifty states have state parks, and most require just a low-cost vehicle permit for entry. (Fishing and hunting require separate permits.)
How to get involved
Visit www.nps.gov to find national parks nearby or for vacationing. You can camp at many state parks for around $25 per night, per group.
