According to the great Aristotle, the essence of life is to serve others and do good. And we may not know everything about ancient Greek philosophy, but we tend to agree with this.
During the holidays, we think a lot about the things we are thankful for — often, this turns our thoughts to others who don’t have all these things. Many of our fellow Texans are missing family members, don’t have a roof over their heads, or don’t know how they will afford their children’s next meal.
It can be overwhelming trying to figure out how to help. If you don’t have money to donate, time can be a valuable resource to share. But with so many volunteer organizations to choose from, how do you decide which to trust and what cause to support?
It’s usually best to find a cause you feel deeply connected to. The time you spend in your efforts will give you more fulfillment, and you’ll likely be able to do more good because your heart is in it. This quick quiz will help you find the cause that’s closest to your heart.
1. My motto is:
2. What kind of music do you like?
3. The most pressing problem my community faces is:
4. What’s an ideal way to spend your afternoon?
5. I like working with:
6. What were your favorite subjects in school?
7. The quality I value most is:
8. The world would be a better place if:
What Cause Should You Volunteer For?
Your calling is to help animals.
When it comes to helping others, you never forget our furry, four-legged friends. You’re probably well-aware of the stray dog problem in Texas' cities and the need to find loving homes for abused pets and those left to shelters. Here are some statewide organizations worth checking out: Lost Paws Rescue of Texas; The Humane Society; Animal Rescue of Texas; SPCA of Texas; PAWS Shelter of Central Texas.
Your calling is to help children.
You feel for youngsters who come from broken homes and are in need of a mentor to help them realize their full potential, and believe this is at the heart of how we can improve our communities and society. Here are some statewide organizations worth checking out: Stand for Children; Children’s Defense Fund; Big Brothers Big Sisters; Reading Partners; Jonathan’s Place; Covenant House Texas.
Your calling is to help the homeless.
You feel empathy for the plight of those less fortunate and want to lend a helping hand to improve their lives. Here are some statewide organizations worth checking out: North Texas Food Bank; SoupMobile; Trinity Center; The Stewpot; Family Promise.
Your calling is to assist in preserving our natural world.
You feel the need to help keep Texas beautiful in any way possible. And every aluminum can or cigarette butt picked up along the way is a wonderful place to start. Here are some statewide organizations worth checking out: Adopt-a-Highway; Don’t Mess With Texas: Trash & Treasure Hunt Events; Texas State Parks; Texas Parks & Wildlife; Environmental Science Institute.
Share your Results:
For more ways to help Texans in need, read our blog about becoming a mentor.
