From left, Lina Colasacco, Ellen Petronaci and Jackie Ermola from Eat Better Live Better accept a check for the organization’s Christmas Toy Drive from Linda Gibson and Marilyn Bates of Cason United Methodist Church’s Women in Faith. Photo provided
By Janis Fontaine
Vowing to volunteer more is a common New Year’s resolution, but volunteering has declined over the last few years, in part due to COVID-19, according to the Do Good Institute at the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy. The institute studies philanthropy as part of its one-of-a-kind program that "provides education, opportunities and resources to develop the next generation of nonprofit leaders, social innovators and civic-minded students."
At the same time, the need for services and the volunteers who provide them is increasing. Often, the first place people go to ask for help — or to offer help — is the church or synagogue.
Research shows two factors influence altruism: “religiousness” and education. In “The Power of Practices: Religious and Spiritual Activities Are Vital to Giving and Volunteering,” David P. King, Ph.D., wrote:
“We know that religion is one of the strongest predictors of giving and volunteering. Religious Americans are more likely to give and volunteer, and to do so more often and in higher amounts both to religious and secular causes.”
But the phrase “religious Americans” is vague, and the universal message at the heart of volunteering — to “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” — transcends religion. The concept is found in Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, Confucianism and even in the teachings of the Greeks centuries BCE.
“It’s important to be in service to God,” said Pastor David Schmidt of Cason United Methodist Church in Delray Beach. “We’re very clearly called in Matthew 25, where he says,‘ whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters you did for me.’ Everything you need to know about why we should be serving people is summed up in that verse.”
Another factor strongly tied to a person’s likelihood to volunteer is education. Whether at a place of worship or outside in the nonprofit community, the more education you have, the more likely you are to give your time to a cause.
In 2023, Gallup reported, “Volunteerism nearly doubles between non-collegegoers (14%) and those with at least some postsecondary education (27%) or an associate degree (27%). It increases to 38% among those with a bachelor’s degree and 47% with a graduate degree.”
Jackie Ermola of Delray Beach, an advocate for people in need, spends her days trying to make the world a better place. A former business executive, she has served on nonprofit boards and run ministries in the past, but says, “I was spinning too many plates.”
Now she’s on the board at Eat Better Live Better, a food source that focuses on providing healthful food, including access to fresh produce and no-sugar and low-sodium groceries, as well as nutrition education to the community.
Eat Better Live Better serves people facing health challenges (including childhood obesity) that can be improved by a better diet.
“My grandmother was a great influence on me because she helped a lot of people. She had a big farm in Delaware, and she was always a doer and that’s how I grew up,” Ermola said. “My father said the Salvation Army helped him and my mother, so I never go by that red kettle and not put something in there.”
Ermola says it’s about our actions, and Schmidt agrees.
“Actions will always speak louder than words. I hate to use that cliche, but it’s just absolutely true. Andy Stanley calls that the difference between believing and behaving. You can believe in Jesus Christ, but are you behaving in the way Christ behaved?” Schmidt said.
Ermola says she tries to be Christlike, and that her volunteer work sustains her.
“I’ve had great careers, but I always tell people this is the best job I’ve ever had, and I don’t get paid for it,” she said. “I love the homeless. They’ve given me more than I’ve given them. But I still ask myself, ‘How can this happen?’ I just feel in this country, we could do better. We need to do better.”
Ermola takes great pride in what Eat Better Live Better has accomplished.
“It’s God’s work, but it’s not always easy.” Hunger is a never-ending void that she can never fill, so she tries to keep things in perspective. “It’s one soul at a time,” she said.
For Schmidt, it’s almost simple: “Love the Lord, your God, and love your neighbor. Everything else is above your pay grade. Your job is to love people. When I see my maker on that day and say to him, ‘God, I tried to love everybody,’ I think his response will be, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’ Because if we can love people, that softens our heart. And it softens their heart.”
Janis Fontaine writes about people of faith, their congregations, causes and community events. Contact her at fontaine423@outlook.com.
Some ways to get involved
There are many ways to serve that don’t involve feeding the hungry, although that’s an important ministry. You can play in the praise band or bell choir or sing in the choir. You can lead Bible studies or teach Sunday school. There are outreach ministries, community teams and family ministries, and other opportunities.
To find a role, experts say consider your interests and availability, then express your interest to church leaders. They’ll find a place for you.
If you want to work with one of the long-established charities that feed the hungry, consider one of these:
Boca Helping Hands — bocahelpinghands.org or 561-417-0913
CROS — crosministries.org or 561-233-9009
Eat Better Live Better — eblb.org or 678-428-3370
What the Bible says about service
The Bible portrays volunteering and service as a core part of faith, showing love for God and others, using God-given gifts, and fulfilling the example of Jesus. Serving is seen as essential, not optional, and is a way to glorify God and experience his blessing, with a focus on humility and generosity.
In the Old Testament:
“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” — Proverbs 11:25
“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.” — Proverbs 19:17
“The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.” — Proverbs 22:9
In the New Testament:
“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” — Matthew 5:16
“And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” — Hebrews 13:16
“Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” — Romans 12:13
“I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” — Acts 20:35
“Feed the hungry and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.” — Isaiah 58:10
“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: ‘They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.‘” — 2 Corinthians 9:7-9
— Compiled by Janis Fontaine
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