Your skills, talents & time are needed: volunteer

No matter where you are, there are people and environments around you that need you, that would welcome you, as a volunteer through a range of nonprofit organizations. 

Habitat for Humanity is a Christian organization, but did you know that 

• they welcome anyone, including atheists, to participate in their house building and neighborhood restorations, 
• they have zero religious requirements regarding clients and, therefore, have helped Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists, Hindus and, yes, Atheists? 
• they work on the legislative level to address, through public policy and legislation, both equitable access to home ownership and historical barriers to home ownership by various minority groups?
• they are one of the most passionate and active anti-racist organizations anywhere?
• they are becoming more and more active in the green-building movement?

I've volunteered with my local Habitat affiliate, and except for one volunteer, one white guy, who insists on praying before we start a build, I have felt absolutely comfortable and welcomed. And I love being engaged with an organization that does all of the above. 

Goodwill is focused on helping people enter or re-enter the workforce. Goodwill thrift stores are their main fundraising tool for that work, in addition to providing a space for their clients to get work experience. Your local Goodwill may have ESL classes, computer classes, resumé writing classes and more they would love your help with. 

There are refugees and immigrants in your community. Yes, really. And there's a nonprofit that's trying to help them. You could drive immigrants to a grocery store, show them how to use mass transit, help them with school entrollment paperwork, help them move, help them with a job application and so much more. Any search engine will help you find nonprofits helping immigrants in your area. 

Food banks, Meals on Wheels, a local community theater, your local public library, a dog breed rescue group, a women's shelter, a homeless shelter, a local watershed, a local state park, a local national park - all need and welcome volunteers. 

Go volunteer. Go volunteer for just a day and see how you like it. Volunteer in a cause you care about. Volunteer so you don't feel helpless. Volunteer to become better edcuated about a cause you care about. 

Volunteer. 

Still here. Just not sure what to say

I am still here! Still finding inspiration and wonder in the world, despite all of the many bad things: a felon President committing more felonies, an electorate that put him there, all that's happening in Gaza and Afghanistan and the DAR and Sudan and on and on. Very hard to find hope these days, no question. 

You can't fight this alone. And I'm not going to tell you how to fight it because I don't really know myself. I keep reading about "keep fighting" and "keep resisting" and I've no idea what that looks like right now. So whatever YOU find, and you believe its productive and it is within your ethical framework and you are comfortable with the risks and potential negative consequences that come with the action, I guess... go for it? Just please don't engage in violence against people. Please don't. 

What's also important is staying mentally healthy right now. It's vitally important, actually. 

I think some keys right now to staying afloat are:

• NOT disengaging, but not ALWAYS engaging. Pick a time for news reading or watching and an amount of time for doing it and then turn it off. 
• Get outside - unless you feel you may be targeted for deportation. Walk around your neighborhood. Walk in public parks. Get that winter and rain gear on and get outside even when the weather bites. Get your head clear. 
• Lean on things like getting outside, being with people that love you, listening to music and doing things you enjoy rather than alcohol or cannabis. Don't lean on those. 
• Read books. 
• Watch PBS. If you aren't already giving, give $5 a month so you can get a subscription to their on-demand channel, Passport, and watch some things good for your mind and soul. 
• Look for community events to attend that bring you together with people who are not fascists - but, of course, only if you don't fear deportation. Go to events at the library. At the community theater. At the nearest university. Hosted by a nonprofit that supports refugees or LBGTQ people. 

I hope that, if you can, that you will keep track of what federal actions are hurting people, and reach out to those people affected. There are plenty of nonprofits that can help you do this. 

Dark times. Look for the light. Go to the light.