More Than Just Helping: Finding Meaning in the Act of Giving

As the holidays approach and we think about the “season of giving,” for some people, that season becomes a part of their daily lives. It is more than just giving their time at the holidays; it becomes a deeper connection to the people and projects in their community. Through their efforts, they have the opportunity to make a difference by combining their knowledge and experiences so that everyone in the community benefits.

Heather Sommer is an Extension Master Food Volunteer, providing nutrition education classes for the public. When seeking an opportunity to volunteer, Heather specifically looked for something that would be fun and engaging with people in the community. She found that connection through food.

“Eating and cooking are universal equalizers and allows me to connect with people of all ages. When we meet people where they are with the knowledge they already have, then they are open to learning and making a change at home to improve their nutrition habits,” says Heather.

Working with others to share cooking and nutrition information is an exciting and mutually beneficial experience for her. “I’ve learned that having a sense of curiosity is key to volunteering, more important than having a specific skill set. When you are curious, you possess a growth mindset and this mindset sets everyone up for success.”

Heather finds volunteering most energizing when working with a team of volunteers or a class of students where everyone contributes their unique knowledge. “It's fascinating to see how each person offers expertise to improve our classes, whether it's a new recipe or a specific cooking skill. This collaborative effort blurs the lines between teacher and student, creating an environment where the combined wisdom leads to the best possible learning experience for all.“

Jerry Wickersham serves as a Volunteer Income Tax Assistant (VITA). This role requires him to complete a mandatory certification each year to stay current on the new tax laws and regulations. This dedication is not for everyone, but Jerry understands how this knowledge can directly help other people.

“While some people know what they need to do, they are often not comfortable with a computer or the tax software that is available to them. By coming to a VITA site, they can bring their tax materials and feel safe knowing a trained person is there who can help them complete their return properly.”

He finds it rewarding to see how much money clients save by not having to pay someone to do their taxes, freeing up funds to cover the cost of food and medicine.

Jerry learns a great deal from both the annual training and from other volunteers in the group. “They bring a lot of knowledge from their own experiences, creating an environment where we each have something to contribute as well as learn from one another to support the client.”

Extension Master Gardener Laurie Hess enjoys the time spent with the Junior Master Gardener program because of the opportunity to work with a team of Extension Master Gardeners to create impactful lessons for the youth.

There was a class on the life cycle of a seed using zinnias. A student saw all the seeds generated from one zinnia head, got curious about how many more plants could be grown, and asked to take home any extra seeds. Come to find out, the student had created a greenhouse in her bedroom and planted all the extra seeds.

Laurie was blown away when the student returned and showed her photos. “I was just stunned by her initiative and how she applied the knowledge she gained in the lesson to make these seeds grow. There is a positive charge in me when a lesson connects with students, and they get excited.”

That feeling of inspiration and reciprocal energy is constant. This September, three times as many monarch butterflies floated in the breeze at the Monarch Waystation at St. Agnes School. After years of hard work, the volunteers and students could finally see that the time and effort invested into the plantings had paid off and had a positive impact on the monarch population. It instantly made Laurie and the team want to dive right back into creating new lessons about monarchs for the students.

These volunteers and many others understand that sharing ideas and combining skills are the keys to success. They can identify moments where their efforts had a positive change in themselves as well as the person or project they were helping. There is an incredible synergy of giving and receiving. Each time they volunteer, they are reminded of the impact their work has on our community today and in the future.

by Tracy Hemsath, Volunteer Leadership and Development Agent, 2025