These days living on a budget seems to be the norm. Some may feel that financial contributions to favorite non-profits have become smaller and less frequent. This, however, does not mean that the need for charitable support has diminished. When I was a “starving college kid” I started volunteering my time as a way to support charities I felt passionate about for “free.” As it turned out, my time was not free at all. In fact, it was as though I was being remunerated. I’m not talking dollars and cents, but I have been compensated through my volunteer work. Spending time in my community and helping out those in need has rewarded me in many ways. I have made new friends, built leadership skills and discovered new areas of interest through donating my “free” time.
The reminder to positively contribute to the community surrounds us all here at AH. Our Social Responsibility Committee (SRC) is always finding new ways to pay it forward. A few weeks ago the SRC provided an opportunity to spend the afternoon volunteering at the Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance (MANNA). This was the first time I had heard about the organization and was excited to hop on board. While my colleagues and I helped the staff and other volunteers prepare nutritious meals for individuals living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-threatening illnesses, I couldn’t help but envision all of the clients who would receive these meals. Each time I prepared a breakfast platter, chopped an onion, or labeled a cake box I was reminded that the piece of cake or breakfast sandwich I was handling would be delivered to a person who would directly benefit from something I helped make possible. To me there is no greater reward.
The most important part of volunteering is finding something that you love to do. If you are looking to get involved in opportunities in your area I recommend finding something that you're passionate about then locate a need in your community. There are countless reasons why you should volunteer - you just need to find the right program or organization that fits for you.
Watch our latest installment of AH TV: AH Employees Give Back, for a peek into our SRC activities!
Theatre enthusiast and scrapbooking novice, Ashley Scherer, currently serves as Marketing Coordinator at AH where she is referred to as the “email guru.” Her talents are not just limited to the field of marketing; she was a Junior Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleader at age 13 and holds the title of Best Female Performance as “Golde” in Fiddler on the Roof at Kershaw School in Mt. Ephraim, NJ, her hometown. Ashley can be found at the Schuylkill River Dog Park in Philadelphia with Izzy (her Jack Russell Mix), enjoying volunteer work in the community or with her MarCom crew thinking up fabulous marketing strategies for AH’s client partners.
