Hello, Neighbors Network Friends
Happy April!
Flowers are blooming. Trees are filling with new life. The air is warming. Spring is all around us. This month, Easter and Passover will be celebrated, honoring rebirth and liberation. We send heartfelt wishes to those who celebrate.
April is National Volunteer Month! Neighbors Network owes so much to the selfless dedication of our wonderful volunteers. For more on the history of celebrating Volunteers and to read about two of our volunteers, see our Spotlight on Volunteers in this issue.
What’s New
Scrabble
Members had a good time challenging their spelling and strategic thinking skills in a light-hearted Scrabble game at a Member’s home. While enjoying camaraderie and tasty treats, Members laid down their best words, looking for those high scores. One of the scrabble sets they used dates back to the 1970s and another rotated for easy reach. The three table winners were celebrated with medals, brought by a long-time player.
Upcoming
Mattress flipping
Spring means it’s time to turn the clocks forward and flip those mattresses. Members can sign up to have their mattress flipped or rotated.
Here, two Volunteers help a Member wrap her box spring in a plastic sleeve, which she provided.
Winter Park Boat Tour
Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, Members will be invited to enjoy a boat ride on the Winter Park Chain of Lakes at half the normal cost. It will be a treat for Members to hear the humorous stories told by the boat captain during this hour-long tour through three lakes and two man made canals.
National Volunteer Month
The History
The impulse to help others is part of being human. In fact, it is at the heart of Neighbors Network. But have you ever wondered how volunteerism came to be recognized and celebrated? National Volunteer Month evolved from what began as National Volunteer Week first held in Canada in 1943. The week celebrated the unwavering contributions of women during World War II who would collect supplies and help the wounded soldiers. National Volunteer Week debuted in the United States in 1974, eventually becoming National Volunteer Month. It was made official worldwide in 1990.
Volunteering doesn’t just benefit those who receive the assistance. In fact, volunteering is healthy for you! Helping people releases serotonin and makes people happier. Humans have a natural need to give and to work with others. Countless studies have proven this fact. A British study published in the Journal of Happiness Studies (2020) examined 70,000 people and came up with conclusive evidence: people who volunteer once a month are happier and less stressed.
National Volunteer Month serves as a reminder that even small acts of kindness can create a ripple effect of positivity. We thank the Volunteers all over the U.S. for their services and countless hours dedicated to the betterment of neighbors, communities, and the many causes they believe in.
Please thank those who volunteer to help you and encourage friends to volunteer with Neighbors Network. It’s truly a win-win situation.
Spotlight on Volunteers
Joncarlos, a powerplant engineer during the week, volunteers to “give back” on Saturdays by helping Members with tasks they can’t do themselves. He volunteers because he appreciates the influence older mentors have had in his life, attributing their insights and encouragement to him becoming who he is today. He looks forward to hearing Members’ stories about what they’ve experienced in their lives. He finds it touching and motivating.
Erin works full-time as a network administrator and volunteers on his days off. Asked why he volunteers with Neighbors Network, he said, “The more I did it, the more fascinating it became. I realized how much I enjoyed getting to meet these older people, they have fascinating perspectives. You get to an age when you can’t do all you’d like to do, but they find a way to deal with it.
“You go into a Member’s home and learn a little of their vast history. It’s fascinating. Their stories blow my mind. When I do something that’s easy for me and takes only a small amount of my time, it’s a big deal for them. Their smile lights up the room for me. It’s gratifying. I hope someone will be willing to do the same for me some day.
“My grandparents are gone now. I loved hearing my grandfather’s stories, even though he told the same ones for years. When a friend said he’d heard a story before, I told him I will listen to my grandfather’s stories over and over because some day he won’t be able to tell them anymore. I want to remember his voice.
“Volunteering with Neighbors Network has helped me realize there’s a lot of history being lost because people don’t take the time to listen to older people. I’m glad I’m getting the opportunity to do that.”
Thank You
Your interest in Neighbors Network means the world to us. Please share this newsletter with friends and neighbors who may be interested, for themselves or someone they know. They can sign up to receive NN News at the bottom of any page in our website. If you have questions, give us a call at 321-209-2775.
Your friends at Neighbors Network