Mission of the Give Initiative
Craig Hospital’s Give Initiative seeks to enhance the physical, social and emotional well-being of individuals after spinal cord and brain injury through volunteering in the community.
The Give Initiative — made up of an interdisciplinary team that works to open the door to volunteering — provides education for participants and organizations about the benefits of volunteering in the community. In addition, the team develops strategies to support active participation, introduces volunteering to patients and grads, and recruits these individuals for opportunities.
The team also works to establish community partnerships for volunteer experiences. This entails seeking out appropriate organizations and working together with each organization’s volunteer coordinator and making referrals.
What Are Some of the Benefits of
Volunteering in the Community?
- Connecting to others
- Finding enjoyment
- Improving your physical health
- Improving your sense of wellbeing
- Evaluating your future work options
- Being an agent of change in your community
“Meaningful, productive activity is key to developing a feeling of satisfaction and contribution to society. Volunteer work has been shown to have a positive effect on a person’s sense of well-being. Helping others has been associated with improved health, happiness, self-esteem, reduced stress, and decreased depression. It has also been linked to fewer hospital readmissions and development of secondary conditions.” — World Health Organization
Adults with a spinal cord injury who participate in volunteering reported higher levels of overall quality of life, current adjustment, and general health with fewer depressive symptoms and fewer hospitalizations than those that didn’t volunteer. — Yuen et al. 2004
There are significantly greater improvements in life satisfaction and self-perceived success in adults who participated in volunteering after TBI. — Payne et al. 2020
Tools to Support Volunteering
HOPE Handbooks: Brain Injury (BI)
Handbook for Volunteers Living with BI (PDF file)
Supervising Volunteers Living with BI (PDF file)
HOPE Handbooks: Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
Handbook for Volunteers Living with SCI (PDF file)
Supervising Volunteers Living with SCI (PDF file)
Volunteering Handout: How to Get Involved (Word .docx file)
Vetting a Potential Volunteer Location (Word .docx file)
Take this volunteer match test to find volunteer opportunities near you. This test is useful if you are looking for volunteer opportunities for kids, families, teens, students or adults. This volunteer match test takes less than 5 minutes to complete and will match you with volunteering categories and provide you and interest level. Use this information to discover volunteer opportunities in your area you may enjoy the most.
Contact Us
Are you interested in learning more about the Give Initiative? Connect with the team by emailing us at giveinitiative@craighospital.org or fill out the interest form below. (If you’re unable to see or fill out the form, access it here.)