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Health & Fitness

A Day of Volunteerism: Five Acres Animal Shelter and Donating Blood for 608 Serve Week

My experiences volunteering for Church of the Shepherd's 608 Serve Week! Serving our community is great way to spend a day off!

What an absolutely GREAT, beautiful day we are having here in St. Charles today!

Today I volunteered to serve St. Charles on behalf of Church of the Shepherd's 608 Service....a service that serves!!! 

I took on two projects today, this morning I led our group of volunteers to the Five Acres Animal Shelter on Pralle Rd. Then this afternoon, my personal service action for the day was giving blood at the NEWLY opened Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center on Mexico Rd. 

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Many folks wonder "Why would I give up one of my valuable days off to volunteer to do work?  That's working for FREE????" To those folks I would reply, it's not working for free. When I'm helping an animal shelter, or donating blood....in some way, I'm helping other people. 

Knowing that, it is better than any paycheck I could get.  Remember those words "money can't buy happiness"? That's EXACTLY my point here.  Volunteering fills my heart and soul with warmth and happiness that I can't get from either working my "regular" job, or sitting in front of the TV trying to wade through my Netflix queue...

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I took up the leadership reigns for this morning at the animal shelter, where we got to wash out kennels and carriers, then I helped walk a couple dogs.  I then got to go into an enclosure and play with an Alaskan Husky named Kira, one of the most coolest dogs I've ever had the privilege to meet! 

After eating lunch, I then went by myself to the Blood Center, where they took my blood to help those who need it!  I am a regular blood donor since I am O- blood type, so I donate as often as I can. 

It's been a while since I have volunteered anywhere...but doing it today was SO enriching.  We had a little introduction to the Shelter this morning before we did our tasks....I had no idea how much it takes to keep a shelter like their up and running! 

Anything that can be donated to the shelter is helpful.  It's a "no kill" shelter, so they keep their animals sometimes up to a year or more before they can get adopted. 

I would recommend anyone that wants to feel happiness on an entirely different level, go out and find YOUR way to volunteer.  There are SO many opportunities in our region to volunteer....even if it's for a couple of hours a week.  You CAN make a difference in the community! 

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