I’ve been working social media before social media was given a name…or even an idea. I even designed websites via a WebTv. Yes, you read that correctly.
However, once you realize that you have a platform, you use it. I use my social media accounts (I have plenty with all that I’m involved in) to spread the word about things that are important to me or simply things I like to share; relevant content is everything.
Most of that turns into offline situations which keep me impeccably busy, but there are no complaints. Due to social media, I read a post made by www.SoldiersAngels.org on Facebook that grabbed me. They said they were looking for more people to “adopt a soldier”.
I was familiar with them already due to the fact that a few of their members presented my aunt and I with a poem and Army keepsake box when my cousin was killed in Iraq back in 2006.
However, my life quickly changed and next thing you know, I was working social media to spread the word not only about my cousin (to keep her memory alive), but to start spreading the word about the non-profit that my aunt started called the Missouri Military Memorial Foundation. We’re a grassroots non-profit and simply through various fundraisers that we hold each year we’ve raised a large chunk of money.
Four years later and I’m so proud of what my social media skills have been able to help accomplish (see: https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/local-group-continues-efforts-honor-missourians-killed-iraq-and-afghanistan)
Yet, I needed something…more.
So then I became a Girl Scout Leader. Rewarding to say the LEAST. I was honored with the Girl Scout Leader of the Year award last year and will be completing my 5 year volunteer status this year.
Yet, I was still searching…what else could I do? Something for me, something rewarding and something that contributes to spreading good will. Then that ad popped up in my newsfeed and it was if some bright light popped up above my head, in all it’s cartoon fashion, and I literally said out loud, “That’s it!”
So I signed up to be…an angel. No giggles from the peanut gallery, please. A soldier’s angel, not the type with wings and a halo.
I read about different groups within this non-profit and found the one that suited my needs (i.e. what I wanted to contribute) and I registered for their “Ladies of Liberty” group. With this group I am able to pick a female in the United States Army, write her and send her random care packages about once a month.
And I’m doing so in honor of my cousin Sergeant Amanda Pinson.
I was assigned my first sHERO today and already have the first package ready to go. While I can’t tell you anything about her (it’s the agreement you make when volunteering with them) I can tell you that she requested almonds, beef jerky and some good smelling bath soap.
Done. Done. And…done!
I’ve told her that I don’t need her to write back (they generally work LONG hours when deployed), but to let me know what she needs. I just know that I need to do this. It feels right. It’s the ‘good for your soul’ sort of therapy because I know my cousin would have done the same. Therefore, I still get to keep her memory alive and yet give to someone else in return.
It doesn’t get any better than that… or does it?
Since my post on Facebook (7 hours ago) about adopting a soldier, I’ve had over 20 people ask me how they can do the same. I sent them to the SoldiersAngels.org website. THAT is how you use social media. There is power behind actions of good and spreading the word about things that you believe in… you just have to be willing to put it out there.
