Bi-County services self-advocates presenting a check to Yehoshua Inc. on Pay it Forward Day this year.
April 28th was our third annual Pay it Forward Day. On this sunny Monday, we joined disability self-advocates across Northeast Indiana to surprise organizations with checks and recognition. When a person’s daily activities depend on support from others, the opportunity for them to give may be limited. Pay It Forward Day offers self-advocates the chance to make an impact and to donate to those organizations who have given to them. The day was filled with smiles and words of thanks and appreciation.
We know the benefits of caring behavior. Mom was right when she said, “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35) and the research bears it out.
- People who share a meal with others are happier than those who eat alone (World Happiness Report).
- Just observing the kindness of others can increase one’s sense of well-being.
- When someone shares, volunteers, donates or helps another person they will benefit with an increased sense of happiness and less likely to be depressed(American Psychological Association).
We once joined I Can volunteers at Little River Wetlands!
The Volunteer Center’s I Can program provides the opportunity for socialization and donating of their time for young adults with disabilities. Whether helping to plant starters at Little River Wetlands or stocking backpacks for hungry school children, there are plenty of opportunities to provide those benefits of benevolence to all. Many disability service providers with day services also encourage volunteerism amongst those they serve. AWSF has reaped the benefits of many of their volunteer efforts, and I would encourage you to consider doing the same.
Virtually every non-profit looks for dependable volunteers. The social connectedness that is part of volunteering contributes to the sense of wellbeing of the participant. If you are looking for volunteers, consider reaching out to Volunteer Fort Wayne or to disability providers in Northeast Indiana. Together we can increase the social integration of those with disabilities. We can provide them with the opportunity to increase those feel-good endorphins that come with doing good. We can provide for that Pay it Forward opportunity more than once a year. We should all be thinking of ways to engage others in giving back when they might not always have a chance to give in the way that they would prefer.