The Ripple Effect: Small Actions, Big Impact

Can one person truly make a difference? I'm Teresa, your host, and I’m here to share some mind-expanding facts about volunteering that will ignite your passion for community involvement. This special episode commemorates National Make a Difference Day, as we delve into my personal journey of giving back - from packing food boxes at the St. Mary's Food Bank, to fostering family members in need, participating in charity walks and runs, and even contributing to Maui Fire relief efforts.

Take an enlightening journey with me as I reveal how the power of small actions can leave a significant impact on our communities. Discover the joy volunteering can bring, and learn how societal influences often sparks participation. Hear my deeply personal experience of blessing my late father's senior center with Thanksgiving food boxes, a testament to the fact that making a difference can be as simple as sharing your stories and experiences. Let's inspire each other to make a difference in our own meaningful way. Are you ready to fill up your cup with the joy of giving back?

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Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:09

Welcome to season two of the Infusion podcast. My name is Teresa and I am your host. I'm excited to be back for another season. The goal of this podcast is to help women and young girls fill up their cups. Oftentimes we are so focused on helping and supporting others that we forget to take care of ourselves too. My mission is to spread love and joy through movement, education and motivation. Today we are celebrating National Make a Difference Day. Make a Difference Day was created by USA Weekend in 1992 and co-sponsored by Points of Light. It encourages volunteerism and community support. Make a Difference Day has inspired over 30 million volunteer hours and has reached 30 countries. Usa Today has taken over as the central location for information about volunteering. Make a Difference Day has provided humanitarian aid to the country, from gathering stuffed toys for firefighters to organizing relief efforts for Hurricane Sandy.

Speaker 1: 1:08

So what are five facts about volunteering that may just blow your mind? Volunteering is all about the endorphins. Multiple studies have concluded that a single act of volunteering can help people lead happier lives. Number two college students love to volunteer. The hottest demographic of volunteers falls in the 18 to 24 year old college student category Girls, trump, boys. Historically, the female gender has been more active in volunteering projects than males. Yay go us ladies. Number four peer pressure works. So keep it up. In this situation, peer pressure works. We don't want to promote peer pressure on this podcast, but for volunteerism. 40% of all volunteers rise to the occasion after being convinced by a friend or a loved one to participate in a volunteer activity. And number five it cures a lonely heart. As per a survey, the majority of people confessed that they took up volunteering to be part of a team. So if you're feeling lonely, you don't have any loved ones in the city where you live find a volunteer activity so you can link up and meet some new friends and also donate your time for a great cause.

Speaker 1: 2:28

So I myself enjoy making an impact and a difference in the lives of others. There are so many people in the world who just need someone to acknowledge them, to realize that they exist. With so much wealth across the world, it is very sad that poverty and homelessness still exists. One person cannot change the entire world, but if each of us does one thing, those will add up to many. So what have I done in my life to make a difference in my community?

Speaker 1: 2:57

I've done several volunteer things. I've made a list here and I'm sure that I'm missing some things, but the ones that I want to highlight is volunteering at the St Mary's Food Bank. So I've done this as part of a corporate initiative with my employers that I've worked for, and also as a group of friends. We volunteer at the St Mary's Food Bank to pack emergency food boxes for families and seniors in need. As a company, our small business has purchased and delivered water to the homeless in downtown Phoenix. I've also been a foster parent to two of our family members who were in need, so that's another way of volunteering and giving your time back.

Speaker 1: 3:36

I've participated in various walks and runs to benefit cancer, for Veterans Day, for many other causes and reasons volunteering my time to raise awareness for those different things. Also one of my favorites and one that I really love to do because I can personally impact people individually, one-on-one and in a group setting is teaching group fitness classes. I teach group fitness to uplift and motivate others. We also use group fitness as a platform to fundraise for many different causes. Most recently, I participated in the Maui Relief efforts and we did virtual group fitness classes to raise money for those impacted by the Maui Fires. I've donated various contributions, such as money, clothes, shoes, hygiene items, to various different organizations. Some other things that I do to volunteer is just sharing my story, so sharing my stories with others to let them know that they are not alone.

Speaker 1: 4:35

We all started from somewhere and, though we may fall, we will get back up again. Have you ever thought about starting your own podcast? Do you like to talk to people? Do you have something to share with the world? Well, if that is you just like I was. I was so confused, didn't know where to start, what tools to use, what tools I needed, but I'm so excited to be partnering with Buzz Sprouts. They help me kickstart my podcast. They have all of the resources that you need, both in written form and also YouTube tutorials, and if you sign up for their paid plan, you will receive a $20 credit if you use the link in my profile bio, and you will also be helping to support the Infusion podcast.

Speaker 1: 5:14

One of the most recent stories that I've shared is my Historectomy Journey, my journey with fibroids. So if you haven't checked out the series on that, we are on part three. Next week we will wrap up with part four, so make sure you stay tuned for that as a family my cousins have we created Thanksgiving food boxes. So we purchased all the items and we created boxes to give and bless our families that were in need and also other people across the valley who were in need. Specifically for me. This was near and dear to my heart because I was able to bless the senior center that my dad used to attend, was able to bless some of his fellow members there with the box for Thanksgiving with Turkey and Ham. We did this a couple of years back and it was so, like I said, it was so heartfelt for me to do that after my dad's passing, to go back and give back to that community that took him in and cared for him while I was at work and they had different activities for him to do, so just being able to give back to them. And then, most recently, our small business partner with our local barbershop to do a back to school supply, backpack, school supply drive that benefited 100 school-aged children in the school districts in which we live.

Speaker 1: 6:27

So it doesn't matter how big or small your role is. Volunteering always makes a difference. Your time and effort are just as valuable as monetary donations. As a community, we can use our unique skills and talents to create a positive impact. So today, on this National Make a Difference Day, how are you going to contribute to making a difference? If you want to share how you've made a difference today, send me an email at TCFitnessFusion at gmailcom, or hit me up on Instagram at Mrs Southwest Coast, or on Facebook on the TC Fitness Fusion page, and I will give you a shout out on next week's episode if you send that information over to me. So, again, as I said, next week I'm going to wrap up my four part, four part fibroid journey series. Also, I have something very special that I'm working on which I will share more on next week. So you have been listening to the Infusion podcast. I hope that something was said today that will help you along your life journey. Until next time, continue to do you, be you, infuse you and be blessed.