All of us have different ways of coping with grief; some of us need isolation, some need expression, and some just need time. We all deal with it in our own ways, but one of the best ways to direct our energy and help us cope is by volunteering or advocating.
Volunteering can help people feel close to their loved one if it was a cause important to them, or feel empowering to take action if it was a factor in their death. It can also just feel good to give back, period!
For some ideas to get started volunteering, check out the list of organizations below that are making a difference:
- The Heart Walk – Sponsored by the American Heart Association
- 1 in 3 Americans will be affected by heart disease or stroke
- Promotes physical activity and heart-healthy living
- Can honor a loved one by sharing their story online
- Can walk with a Community Team of friends and family to raise money in a loved one’s name
- Hays County Heart Walk in San Marcos on April 8th
- See website for more info/other locations & dates of Heart Walks
- NAMI – National Alliance on Mental Illness
- 1 in 5 Americans lives with a mental health condition
- Many ways of getting involved
- Become a NAMI program trainer so you can teach a class or run a support group
- Volunteer on the NAMI Helpline
- Hand out or sell green ribbons for mental health awareness
- Involve your faith community by holding a candlelight vigil or making informative mental health bulletin inserts for your congregation
- Donate Life Texas
- Host or volunteer at donation registration drives
- Share your own Donate Life story
- Volunteer at special events
- Finding a Donate Life Texas organization near you
- Donate Life America – contacts for Donate Life in other states
Learning to cope is a good and natural part of the human experience. If volunteering doesn’t feel right to you, there are plenty of other ways to care for yourself! Please feel free to contact the Donor Family Advocate with questions or requests for support in any way.
