My Journey With Weight Loss – A New Volunteer Opportunity

Today was a perfect day for a run. It was a bit chilly starting out but by time I hit the beach I was quite comfortable. It was partly cloudy which was a good thing because I had forgotten to wear my sunglasses and hat. The tide was about 1/2 way out (or in, I’m not sure) and the water was calm. I particularly enjoyed watching a hawk and a crow seeming to have a game of tag above the beach. All in all a pleasant day for a run.

A few weeks ago I received an email asking if I was interested in being trained as a facilitator for support groups. I wasn’t exactly sure what this was about so I met with the team in charge yesterday. Turns out after a 2 year break during COVID they are starting up sessions again for support groups for care givers. The hope is that they will have enough participation that they can break the groups down into 3 different weekly groups.

In speaking with the program coordinators it became apparent this work is already in my wheelhouse. I already do check-ins weekly with my isolated seniors as well I have my walking group where part of my responsibility is to see if these seniors need any assistance. You add to that the fact that I myself am often in a care giver role for my siblings not to mention I am a trained and experienced facilitator this is a great match for me.

So why, when I already volunteer several hours each week would I feel the need to take on this role? Well, because I know it will make me feel good that I am helping people who need support. I have spoken before about how volunteering has been good for my mental health and I think this program is just going to elevate that for me. In listening to the presentation yesterday I could just feel the excitement of taking on this new role. I was also advised that my volunteer level could be either doing the direct facilitation or being an assistant to the facilitator if that was more in my comfort zone. Didn’t take long for the coordinators to realize I would absolutely be comfortable taking on the lead in these groups.

They are hoping in the next month or so to get training going for the volunteers and then the goal is the groups would start in September. I am hoping the participants will get as much out of this as I know I will.