HOSAEMagazineSpring2021

A s you look to the future, you may be excited by the warming weather, lifting COVID-19 restrictions, and a well- deserved break from school this upcoming summer. Luckily, while you are having fun in the sun, you can still find ways to get involved and make an impact in your community. Even though your HOSA chapters may not be able to meet regularly when school is not in session, there is a lot you can do individually or with a few friends to get active and give back! This can also be the perfect opportunity to branch out and try new volunteer opportunities that you wouldn’t be able to do during the school year. Volunteering and Community Service are an integral part of how HOSA chapters around the globe make an impact in their communities. It is no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic has created obstacles to participating in more traditional community service activities. However, with a bit of creativity and a drive to get involved, you are sure to find ways to still fulfill HOSA’s core value of service this summer. A great place to start is by reaching out to places where you have volunteered at in the past. Places such as food pantries are always in high demand of volunteers, and many do not require you to come in a group in order to get involved. Check your local nursing homes for COVID-19 safe ways to get involved: socially distant arts and craft, Zoom based programming, or more! Here are some more summer volunteer ideas that are sure to increase your involvement and engagement within your community: BACK TO SERVICE: STAYING INVOLVED DURING SUMMER

BLOOD DRIVES Host your own Blood Drive:

If you have access to a location, advertising, and a team, you can host your own blood drive! Now, more than ever, blood and platelet donations are needed to save the lives of those in critical condition. Blood Donation organizations have diligent protocols in place to ensure blood donations are as safe as possible such as sterile collection equipment and enhanced disinfection of surfaces. Click here to learn more from the American Red Cross. Find a blood drive near you: If finding the resources to host a blood drive is not feasible for you, consider donating blood. The need for blood is at an all time high, anything you can do to help will help save many lives. Click here to find a drive near you. Becoming a Red Cross Volunteer: If you want to find ways to help without donating blood or hosting a blood drive, you can sign up to be a Red Cross volunteer. Visit this website for more information! Volunteer at vaccine clinic: As COVID vaccines begin rolling out, many local institutions and organizations are looking for volunteers to help make mass vaccinations as efficient as possible. Check your local hospital, college, pharmacy, or community pop-up clinic to find opportunities to get involved in this worldwide public health initiative. MENTORING/TUTORING Over the summer, many younger students will spend time refining their skills in subjects such as math, reading, or science. If you feel strong in these areas, offer up your skills as a tutor! You can place ads on social media or through email showcasing your desire to volunteer your time as a tutor for younger kids. You can use this time to teach kids how to be innovative in their problem solving skills no matter the subject. You may even brush up on some topics you haven’t seen in a while! CLEAN UP THE PARK, RIVER, BEACH, NEIGHBORHOOD Have you noticed trash building up at your favorite park? You can fix that! As more people spend time outdoors, a buildup of trash is an unfortunate byproduct. If you notice this and want to do something about it, getting together a team to beautify your local park, beach, or neighbourhood is simple and effective! Plus, it is a perfect socially distant activity to do with a group of people! Once you have a group of friends willing to help, you all can gather common cleaning supplies such as gloves, rakes, and trash bags in order to pick up waste. With only a few hands to help and a few hours, you can truly make a difference! GO GROW! Community gardens are local, community-sustained garden plots used to grow fresh produce for

neighborhoods in food deserts, while also beautifying cities, encouraging healthy outdoor activity, and contributing to environmental sustainability. It’s a fast and fun way to give back to your community, your planet, and yourself. Bust out your green thumb and find a community garden near you! VOLUNTEER APPS There really is an app for everything! There are several downloadable apps that allow you to volunteer in a variety of different areas, many of which you can do right from your house. Be My Eyes allows you to help blind people navigate everyday tasks through video call assistance. Charity Miles donates a dollar to one of 40 charities of your choice for every mile that you run. The United Nations Volunteers website offers a variety of virtual volunteering opportunities, from outreach and advocacy to digital marketing to media production. Golden Volunteer Opportunities is a great place to find organizations to volunteer for, based on your availability, location, and interests. Not only are all of these options great ways to get involved individually, they are also great ways to get your chapter involved! No matter which volunteer opportunity you choose, know that you are making a difference while simultaneously showing the world that HOSA members care about service to others. We hope you have fun giving back to your community this summer! Happy volunteering!

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