In my job at The Volunteer Center, I often have the opportunity to suggest people look for causes close to their hearts and find reasons to volunteer with those agencies with missions supporting those causes. It is more likely that you will find satisfaction and a sense of enjoyment, and stay engaged.
Little wonder, then, that so many of the visual images of volunteering include a heart and I often find myself using those phrases, "Volunteers have heart" or "Wear your heart on your sleeve and volunteer."
Heart health is important to me, especially now that I have a one-year old son to chase. With that in mind, I applied to take part in the Go Red BetterU Challenge, an American Heart Association program, sponsored locally by White Plains Hospital.
Did you know that heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women? It is preventable. It is controllable.
What better way to get a kick-in-the-pants to make some improvements in my exercise, diet and motivation than to join 14 other women? My husband jokes about how women all go to the bathroom together, so it may be natural that I need some comaraderie to make these changes stick and am thankful to have the full support of my workplace in this endeavor.
Through BetterU, I have access to nutrition counseling at White Plains Hospital as well as cardiovascular health counseling. To get me moving, I have trainers and equipment to use at Will2Lose in Scarsdale.
To read about this journey, join me on the blog at http://betteruwestchester.blogspot.com/ or, even better, take part in BetterU throught the American Heart Association website at http://www.goredforwomen.org/home/live-healthy/betteru-nutrition-and-fitness-program/.
As always, if you would like to talk to me or one of my colleagues about volunteering or getting volunteers for your agency, please call The Volunteer Center at (914) 948-4452 or check our website. We have speakers and are available to come to your workplace, organization or agency to discuss how we can help you.
