The new year is upon us and by now many of you have already flaked on your resolutions. Things like, “No eating pints of Humphrey Slocumb Blue Bottle Vietnamese Coffee ice cream in bed and then immediately falling asleep” and “Run up to the top of Twin Peaks from 23rd and Valencia every other day” sound easy enough when you’re guzzling champagne while the ball’s dropping, but odds are these ambitious plans have already fallen by the wayside, and we haven’t even made it through the first week!
Moreover, those are some pretty selfish resolutions. Why not get into the spirit of GIVING BACK to the community (and humanity) instead by volunteering at Shanti, one of the coolest non-profits in the city? These rad folks provide emotional and practical support to San Francisco’s most vulnerable individuals living with life-threatening illness; namely, people suffering from HIV/AIDS and breast cancer. A Peer Support Volunteer gets paired up with a client (someone with HIV/AIDS or breast cancer who has come to Shanti for help) and just basically hangs out with them and does things like doing chores, running errands, or providing companionship, thus helping the client continue to live independently.
It’s definitely not easy (they ask for a commitment of 2 to 6 hours a week for at least 6 months), but rest assured it’s some of the most poignant and emotionally rewarding experiences anyone can go through. If you really want to make a difference this year with your resolution, Shanti is the place to go. Plus, they’re having a training session at the end of this month, starting on Friday, January 28th! Check out all the details here!
Why not? Well, basically, because I don’t like other people. But if you do like other people — let’s say, you spend at least one night a week in a bar with them — then, by all means, this would be an excellent alternate way to spend your time, with possibly greater rewards, if you tire of the superficial.
Two thumbs way up for this post! Shanti does great work.
Shanti is one of the most corrupt nonprofits around, and has been for years. Check it out for yourself.
truth.
How so? Just curious because it seems pretty cool.
Or I could just take your word for it, as most people who read this will.