January 2024 Article
A new year is upon us, and we look forward to the opportunities ahead. Or – at least I hope you do. I am excited by the volunteer commitments I have made for early 2024.
What about you? Have you thought about the kinds of things that you might do to help
make another person’s day a little brighter? Perhaps you might consider assisting at
the Hospital where there are numerous areas where you could give time. Or you might
like to help with fundraising for a cause you hold dear. Many not-for-profit organizations
are dependent on fundraising to stay operational. How about walking a dog at the
SPCA or other tasks there? As you see, the opportunities are endless.
The other day I read an article about volunteering being linked to better cognitive health
in Senior’s. This study of 2,476 older adults found that individuals who volunteered
several times a week had the highest levels of executive function.
The study revealed that those who volunteered in late life had better cognitive function,
specifically episodic memory. Some of the volunteer activities the test group engaged in
included educational, religious, health-related, and with other charitable organizations.
Researcher Rachael Whitmer suggests, “Volunteering is about keeping your brain
active. It’s also about socializing, which keeps you engaged and happy, and potentially
lowers stress.”
If this sparks an interest in volunteering for you, please contact the South Okanagan
Similkameen Volunteer Centre at 1-888-576-5661, email the Centre at
info@volunteercentre.info or drop into its new location in The Cannery at 110 – 1475
Fairview Road. Office hours are generally 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday to Friday. Calling
ahead first is suggested. Our Executive Director, Subrina Monteith would love to meet
you!
Have a wonderful New Year. May 2024 be filled with great volunteer experiences!
Submitted By – Laura Turnbull - Chairperson
South Okanagan Similkameen Volunteer Centre
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