Community Service: Sometimes It’s OK To Brag

When I glanced at my agenda for last Wednesday 12/4/24, I asked myself how I’m going to squeeze in a little work for my full-time web design business between all of the time I planned to spend on several of my volunteer activities.

Before I share the day’s timeline, I want to admit that the primary purpose of this article is for me to brag about what a great guy I am. But for LinkedIn, it kinda should be of benefit to others as well (such as yourself), so let me confirm what you probably know:

• The About page of your website is a great place to brag about some of the wonderful things you do for charities (such as sponsoring a little league team or a local 5K) or just how you personally go out of your way to help your customers or neighbors. It separates you from your competition and might inspire a visitor to your site to do something good themselves.
• Giving yourself a pat on the back by telling your friends or family will make you feel better about yourself and more apt to continue to volunteer or donate time/money.
• It’s a great example to your children, siblings, friends or associates to see that you don’t just work for money, but to make the world a better place. That might earn more respect than even your greatest business successes or personal accomplishments.
• Explaining some of the causes that you care about might prompt others to support the very same causes, multiplying your own efforts.

Here are highlights that gave me a warm feeling at the end of the day:

815am: Blood Donation appointment at Blood Bank of Delmarva. I used to do it just for the cookies, but now look forward to the free ice cream bar! I’ve actually donated 10+ gallons since 9/11. If you’ve never attempted, consider giving blood since you can literally save lives.

930am: I’m President of Pike Creek Valley Running Club and dropped off some race shirts and swag to a couple of our sponsors. We’re a 5013c nonprofit with goal of helping people get more fit and healthy. Large and small organizations are always in need of leaders and can’t provide services without volunteers.

12:00pm: As Class Correspondent for my college class at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, I collect news from everyone and submitted it today as our quarterly column in the school alumni magazine. One item included was from a classmate who described how he put in tons of volunteer hours with a chainsaw himself and opened his western North Carolina home to neighbors as his community recovered from the devastation of Hurricane Helene. Somebody needs to be coordinator, otherwise it’s very easy to lose touch with people who were once a big part of your life. Sometimes, there is simple no one who can help except you.

3:30pm: More running club stuff – I emailed invites to members and sponsors to our big holiday party coming up the following week. Again, somebody has to do it.

4:30pm: As Treasurer of my Knights of Columbus Council, I noted balances of all of our accounts to report at meeting this evening. Our leader needed me to propose a $1000 donation towards a coming activity.

6:30pm: Recited Rosary with several Knights of Columbus Brothers, praying for world peace along with person intentions. Prayer is powerful! Ask God for help and thank him for the gifts given to us. God is always there for us.

7:00pm Knights of Columbus meeting where we planned for events, I wrote $3000+ in checks for various activities and food bank donation. I also collected $4,000+ that I’d need to deposit the next day. Over a dozen of us would assist with food preparation and parking assistance for our parish Christmas Tree lighting two nights later which was enjoyed by almost 500 adults and children. There are so many local, national and worldwide charities that help people. My council has raised over $60,000 over the past 5 years and worldwide, our order donates millions of dollars per year and thousands of hours of service to people in need.

Improved Productivity

Having so many non revenue-generating activities actually helped me focus on managing my time better, so I was able to make my clients happy with some website improvements and solutions to technical difficulties.

It makes me feel better to share this with you. Feel free to comment about the little things you do that may be big things for those who need the help!

Webmaster Ray is owner of Attraction Web Design.