Medical research has confirmed that giving and volunteering is a great way to lower your blood pressure, heighten your levels of the “feel good” hormone oxytocin, increase your sense of community and well-being, and lengthen your life.
The legendary Dick Van Dyke comments on this in his book “Keep Moving.” He regularly spends holidays serving meals at a Los Angeles shelter. He says the holidays wouldn’t be the holidays if he didn’t show up at the shelter. He has been known to take moms and kids who have low incomes for a fun-packed day at Disneyland. Many times, the children thought he was just a nice old man, and had no idea of his fame. He reports that he got more of a thrill out of these trips to Disney than the children he invited. He attributes his long life and relative health to many things, but primary among them is his impulse to give back.
In these grinding days of COVID, many of us have been sidelined in our ability to volunteer, even in the smallest ways. We look forward to the day when we can open our doors to our volunteers once again. In the meantime, please remember that you are still on our minds and in our hearts. It is our hope that our emails and newsletters give you that wonderful sense that you are still part of LMM, helping our participants stay warm, safe, housed, and fed—and also seen, respected, and healed. Your concern, prayers, encouragement, and financial support continue to make justice and mercy possible in Northeast Ohio through LMM.
Please let Kate Maver, Director of Development, know if there’s any way she can help you make a gift. You can reach her at kmaver@lutheranmetro.org or 216-658-7204.
