Altruism in Action
Altruism, a selfless concern for the well-being of others, often at the expense of one’s own interests, is the basis of volunteering. Altruism may be driven by empathy and compassion for others or shaped by cultural and social norms. Regardless of the act – mowing a neighbor’s lawn, helping a stranger bag their groceries, or volunteering at an organization – helping others feels good. Volunteering provides a sense of purpose, increases self-confidence, and helps one stay physically healthy, while helping to reduce stress, anger, and anxiety. Volunteering one’s time and talents supports the community AND a healthy lifestyle. Here, I’ve highlighted a few ways that you can reap the benefits of volunteering this summer.
Represent Gilda’s Club
Despite serving the community for a decade, many people have still not heard of Gilda’s Club Minnesota and its free support for anyone impacted by cancer. In my daily life, I have had a family friend, a former neighbor, and a friend’s in-law diagnosed with cancer since I started working at GCMN. I’ve shared with them the free support they could receive at GCMN, which they had never heard about before. That’s where volunteers come in!
We’re looking for volunteers to join our outreach team by helping to spread the word about Gilda’s Club at community events. Outreach opportunities occur on weekdays and weekends, at various times. These include conferences, community partner events such as 5Ks and walks, community health fairs, and more. As a bonus, many summer outreach events take place outdoors – giving you a chance to spend time outside while connecting with the community! Learn more about becoming a Community Ambassador here.
Garden at Gilda’s
Another great way to spend time outdoors is by tending to a garden. Gilda’s Club Minnesota’s clubhouse has multiple garden spaces for members, volunteers, staff, and the community to enjoy throughout the warm months. As anyone who has ever gardened knows, it can take a lot of time and effort to create a beautifully curated, weed-free garden space. You can soak up some vitamin D and enjoy the beautiful Minnesota weather while creating and maintaining a rejuvenating outdoor space at Gilda’s Club! Our garden crew meets every Tuesday morning from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. Sign up to join in a garden shift here.
Gilda Greet
Support GCMN as a Gilda Greeter by maintaining a clean clubhouse environment, interacting with members, and taking in some quiet time. Greeter duties include checking in members, answering the phone, greeting those at the front door, and tasks such as loading and unloading dishwashers, decluttering the lobby area, and setting up and resetting rooms. Sometimes there are additional projects. If not, Gilda Greeters are encouraged to do some reading, crafting, or other interruptible activities
Learn more about becoming a Gilda Greeter here. Hours for this opportunity are mainly Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays between 9 am and 5 pm, with additional evening opportunities on Mondays and Thursdays.
With gratitude,
Renee Anderson
Administrative and Volunteer Coordinator
612-227-2147 office | 952-767-2591 direct
10560 Wayzata Blvd., Minneapolis, MN 55305
