Volunteering Is

I saw a meme last week that said: “I would like to cancel my subscription to the year 2025. I’ve given it a ten-day free trial run and I’m no longer interested.”

I laughed for a moment – and then I went right back to crying about the LA fires.

Here in Orange County, we’re about an hour away from the fires. It’s far enough that we’re not impacted and yet, our proximity to utter destruction and despair adds weight to the deep sadness.

I find that I have to tear myself away from the news and images coming out of LA; I’m riveted and my heart is heavy and still there is beauty.

The beauty is in the helping. And there has been so much helping. 

Big, renowned nonprofits like José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen have jumped in and activated. Grassroots efforts, like Altadena Girls (started by a 14-year-old!), have popped up and are making waves. There are so many examples of helpers. See here and here and here for just a few.

As human beings, we are wired to help. 

In 2022, University of Michigan Professor of Psychology, Stephanie D. Preston, published The Altruistic Urge, exploring how humans are instinctively driven to help those in need. This “selfless reflex,” handed down through millions of years of evolution, is baked into our neurochemical makeup (gosh, I love this so much). And when we help, our brains release dopamine and oxytocin into our systems, making us want to help more.

Last weekend, my daughter and I felt this firsthand when we volunteered last-minute at a donation drive for LA fire victims. It felt SO good to do something tangible. This weekend, our whole family will be sorting donations.* 

Volunteering is an antidote to powerlessness and helplessness. 

It builds community, empowerment, and hope. 

Volunteering is love and care and compassion and growth and leadership and building and rebuilding.

I will always and forever pound the pavement for volunteering. It changed my life – and I see its power. Volunteering isn’t always easy; it can be raw and revealing. But I’d say those hard experiences reinforce the importance of volunteering, of stepping into different perspectives.

Volunteering is a whole vibe, as the kids would say. 

All the love for LA. ❤️

*If you’re in Orange County and want to volunteer this weekend, message me! The event my family is going to is in Newport Beach.

With love and appreciation,

Sarah

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🫂CHOOSE COMMUNITY

Earlier this month, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released his Parting Prescription for America, reflecting on the six years he spent as our country’s Surgeon General. He writes, “As I finish my tenure as Surgeon General, this is my parting prescription, my final wish for all of us: choose community.”

Dr. Murthy specifically prescribes relationships, service, and purpose. He calls for strengthening community as the critical path to health, happiness, and fulfillment.

It’s a beautiful, not-too-long prescription. Definitely worth a read.

✨NOMINATE AN INCREDIBLE WOMAN

Know an incredible female nonprofit leader? Nominate her for the 2025 L’Oréal Paris Women of Worth Class. This program, established 19 years ago, honors women who make significant contributions to their communities. 

Each year, 10 women are selected as Women of Worth honorees. Each honoree receives $25,000 to support their organization, mentorship from the L’Oréal Paris network, and a national platform to share their story.

Nominations are open until March 8.

⚠️LINKEDIN AND YOUR PERSONAL DATA

Recently, LinkedIn announced it would begin collecting user data to train their generative AI systems. Users were automatically opted into this data usage without explicit consent. I first became aware of this update thanks to the Algorithmic Justice League (AJL).

The good news is that you can opt-out of having your personal data – your words and your images – used as training for LinkedIn's corporate AI systems.

AJL explains how to do just that:

1. Go to LinkedIn, then navigate to “Settings.”

2. Choose “Data Privacy.”

3. Locate “Data for Generative AI Improvement.”

4. Toggle the button to “Off “to opt out.

💘NONPROFIT LOVE

Watch Duty is a nonprofit-run app that tracks wildfires with live maps and alerts – and it has become invaluable for LA residents in the past 10 days. The app launched in 2021 and is now available in 22 states, offering evacuation alerts, live text updates, photos, videos, and a map interface featuring flame icons to indicate active fire zones.

Watch Duty is powered by a team of about 200 volunteers, many of whom are retired or active firefighters, dispatchers, or first responders. 

John Mills, Watch Duty’s founder, has emphasized his commitment to maintaining the app as a nonprofit, stating, “I owe it to my community not to be a disaster capitalist.” [Swoon.]

Check out Watch Duty here.