Give Back. Be a Volunteer.

We learned a long time ago that one of the aspects of the Coeur d’Alene area that make it a fantastic place to live are the many volunteers. With so many opportunities, it’s easy to find a match for whatever passion you have in life. Here is how you can help and how volunteering can help you too!

There are many benefits to volunteering. Connecting with others, whether you’re new to the area or a long time resident, and meeting new friends is always a bonus, all while you’re creating a better community to live in.

Families who volunteer together grow together and build a strong foundation. Children learn from seeing and doing, and it makes them feel good that they are helping to make a difference.

Volunteering is a confidence builder, and that is great for your mind and soul. It combats depression and helps put your own problems in perspective.

Even those with limited mobility can make a huge impact, something I (Karen) know from personal experience. While recovering from surgery, I made phone calls to local businesses and managed to collect over $4000 for a great cause, and I never left my home or my chair!

What better way to bring meaning to your life, not to mention it’s fun! You receive fulfillment, drive and motivation. One of our favorite sayings in the volunteer world is: "Rescuing one dog may not change the world, but for the one dog the world will be changed forever.” You may think your time, however little, is meaningless, but trust us when we say you will be appreciated!

You can find your place in the community! Whether you want to work with kids, the elderly, veterans, the less fortunate or animals, there is a place for you. Volunteering can be your greatest gift.

To aid in your search, here are some places to check out. Good luck and happy volunteering!

Churches, Schools, Senior Centers, Lions Club, Library, Animal Shelters and Rescues (such as Help Every Little Paw: www.helpeverylittlepaw.org), Cub, Boy and Girl Scouts, Boys and Girls Club, Museums, Veterans, Relay for Life: American Cancer Society community fundraiser, Local Food Banks and the Hospital.

Also the local United Way www.kootenaiunitedway.org/volunteer can match you with volunteering opportunities.

Holly and Karen Hansen are mother and daughter real estate partners with Windermere Coeur d’Alene Realty. They also founded Help Every Little Paw, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, with their families in 2010.

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