Lotsa Blog

5 Fun Ways to Make the Most of Hospital Visiting Hours

Contributed by Nathan McVeigh

While some caregivers fill their role over many years for a small number of people, others can fill the role in other valuable ways. In fact, there are many ways you can provide care for people in 15 minutes or less. Making hospital visits is a great option either for gaining valuable experience in the health industry or for the pure joy it brings. Here are five ways you can make the most of hospital visiting hours.

 

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How to Form Your Own Disaster Response Team

Contributed by Dawn Allcot

The earthquake and avalanche in Nepal that resulted in thousands of deaths. The tornado that recently ravaged Chicago suburbs. Superstorm Sandy. Hurricane Katrina. Each of these events reminds us of the power of Mother Nature and how unpredictable life can be.

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3 Ways to Show Support to Military Families

Contributed by Tiffany Silverberg

Military families face a diverse set of circumstances which stem from a common core of demands put on them. Depending on, location, number of children, ages of children, and other factors, the demands of separation and relocation may bring more or less stress, but one thing remains the same: All military families in the midst of difficult situations or transitions could use the support of their community. Sometimes the simplest tasks speak volumes to your appreciation and recognition of the demands placed on a military family. Whether you live in a community full of military families or just happen to have an active duty neighbor, you may be looking for ways to help. If you aren’t sure where to begin or don’t know how to ask, here are a few ideas to get you started serving those who serve.

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How to Support the Troops in Your Community

Whether it’s one of the big holidays that remind us of our armed services – Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Veteran’s Day – or anytime you are thinking of all those you serve on our behalf, finding ways to support the troops can be helpful for veterans and their families and can be unifying for the community as a whole. Coming together to work toward a common mission of serving those who serve is a great way to get the community involved and give back.

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How to Volunteer for Someone without a Community

Contributed by Dawn Allcot

How many times do we see a Facebook post or a tweet with a link asking us to donate to a cause? Countless. Unfortunately, most people have limited budgets so they can’t donate to every campaign or need. The truth of the matter is that people with strong networks are more likely to receive help from fundraising campaigns. When motivating others to give, half the battle is building a strong community to support the cause. Once you leverage the power of community, you’ll be able to show others how to volunteer their help in a productive way.

 

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Kids Helping Kids: Leveraging the Power of the Classroom

Contributed by Michelle Hassler 

The old adage, “knowledge is power” rings true when referring to the classroom as well as the “real world.” However, throughout the learning process there comes a time when every student feels powerless. A student may be confused by difficult subject matter, burdened by issues at home, or may suffer from low self-esteem. With proper guidance and observation, teachers can affectively step back and encourage students to help their peers. Helping not only demonstrates mastery of a subject or skill, but it can show social intelligence, kindness, compassion, or problem solving skills. However, the presence of a teacher overseeing and guiding the process is essential. Below are three ways that you can encourage kids helping kids in your classroom.

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How to Coordinate People Helping Others in Crisis

Contributed by Tiffany Silverberg

Crises come in many forms – from natural disasters to home fires, from medical emergencies to building catastrophes. They often come with little to no warning and bring great personal, physical, financial, and emotional burdens. It’s during these times that we see people helping others. When crises strike, it’s wonderful to see communities come together to help those in need. Communities respond quickly to offer support and help those affected return to life in a new normal. Offering to coordinate a community of people to help others will increase efficiency and ensure that everyone’s needs are met. Becoming a leader during crisis might be the best helping hand you can lend. Here are some strategies for helping others help others!

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How to Motivate Others to Give

Contributed by Dawn Allcot

Do you ever wonder why, in times of tragedy, some people seem to have an army of friends, loved ones and even strangers rushing to support them while others, sadly, struggle alone? No one should ever be alone in a time of crisis. Once you know the secret of how to motivate others, you’ll be able to get the help you and your loved ones may need.

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Make a Promise to Volunteer during the Holidays

“It’s better to give than to receive,” as the saying goes. This holiday season is about more than just presents under the tree and stuffing stockings with treats. It’s about giving time too. Finding time to volunteer this holiday season is a memorable way to give back to the community that has supported you and share love with those in need. If you’re interested in holiday volunteer opportunities and helping others, here are some ideas to get you going.

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Helping Others: Stories of Volunteering in Washington State

Here at Lotsa Helping Hands, we often find ourselves talking about the word community. Our vision is a world where everyone can give and receive help through the power of community. For us, community means so much. It’s about sharing one another’s life experiences. We too have our own community of dedicated people who spend much of their time designing and developing the best service possible, and ensuring that our free service gets into the hands of those who need it. On our Blog, we will be sharing helping others stories from our Team. This one comes from Courtney Allen, our Marketing Specialist.

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