Many social issues have a week or month long awareness campaign
and great information and resources are available free or at a very
low price. Sometimes the event is over and done with before we know
about it, so I’ve compiled a list of topics that might be useful to
you or your volunteer organization.
Many social issues have a week or month long awareness campaign and great information and resources are available free or at a very low price. Sometimes the event is over and done with before we know about it, so I’ve compiled a list of topics that might be useful to you or your volunteer organization.
Mother Teresa said: “There is a hidden poverty more pervasive than lack of money. It is the poverty of the heart.”
This compilation of ideas is a great spring board for you to find ways to give generously of your time, attention and resources.
January was the Birth Defects Prevention Month sponsored by the March of Dimes.
Feb. 8-14 is the Children of Alcoholics Week sponsored by the National Association for Children of Alcoholics. www.nacoa.net
Feb. 22-29 is Eating Disorders Awareness week. www.nationaleatingdisorders.org
March 31 is Kick Butts Day, an anti smoking campaign. www.tobaccofreekids.org
April is full of events.
The National Alcohol Awareness month with April 2-4 as the designated alcohol free week end www.ncadd.org April 8 is National Alcohol Screening day and their site is www.mentalhealthscreening.org/ The National Child abuse prevention website is www.preventchildabuse.org and is loaded with super information in English and Spanish. April is their campaign month. April 7 is World Health Day and the theme this year is “Healthy Environments for Children.” Every year over 5 million children ages 0-14 die from diseases related to their environment. Materials available at www.who.int
April 16-18 is National Youth Service Days and this is the largest service event in the world, mobilizing millions of young Americans to identify and address the needs of their communities through service. www.ysa.org
April 19-25 is National TV turnoff week and just think of all the creative productive things you can accomplish by turning off the boob tube. Well, I went to find the website, only to discover this event no longer exists. Our community could start this up again.
April 18-24 is National Volunteer week sponsored by the Points of Light Foundation and Volunteer Center National Network. Inspire by example is their theme. www.pointsoflight.org
May is National Health month as well as National Teen Pregnancy Prevention month. The National Mental Health Association is our country’s oldest and largest non-profit organization addressing all aspects of mental health and mental illness. www.nmha.org
www.teenpregnancy.org is the website for the National Campaign to prevent teen pregnancy. “Parents matter. Teens say parents influence their sexual decision making more than any other source.”
May 1 is Join Hands Day. www.joinhandsday.org This is a national event that unites young people and adults in an effort to make their neighborhoods better.
May 7-17 is National Suicide Awareness Week. Suicide is the third leading cause of young people between the ages of 15 and 24. Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in Americans. www.sprc.org/ If you or someone you know is in crisis call 1-800-784-2433.
Hoping this list has a way for you to reach out and care and share your time, energy, or donations. I’d be glad to share your favorite campaign with our readers.
Until next month, remember the Four Agreements from Don Miguel Ruiz. 1. Be impeccable with your word. 2. Don’t take anything personally. 3. Don’t make assumptions. 4. Always do your best.
Please remember to go vote on March 2 in our primary election and for local measures affecting Santa Clara County as well as Morgan Hill. Freedom always comes with a price and the price on March 2 is your time it takes to case your vote and energy to become acquainted with the issues.
May your days be filled with whispers of angel voices, the warmth of a spring day and the stirrings of your soul.
Mary Ellen Salzano is a Realtor for Century 21 Premier. She lives in Morgan Hill with her husband and two children. She also is a library commissioner. Her columns, Sharing and Caring, are published the third Friday of the month. Contact her at ma***************@***oo.com
