We’re Celebrating Volunteer Appreciation Week
April 16-22, 2023 is nationally recognized in North America as Volunteer Appreciation Week! Volunteers are the heart and soul of our organization, spreading love, empathy, and care that knows no boundaries of borders, generations, or diagnoses. From the very beginning, we at SRNA have depended on the generosity of volunteers to bring the community together, offer support, and do the important work we do every day.
Here are some ways that people are making a difference by volunteering with SRNA:
As a part of our support network…
Support Group Leaders create an open space for listening and sharing with others who understand by hosting support group meetings in person or online.
Peer Connect Leaders support individuals over the phone, by email, or over video chat to offer a listening ear, provide relevant resources, and share connections with someone who understands the realities of rare neuroimmune disorders.
Raising awareness locally…
Event hosts organize fundraising events, such as our Walk-Run-N-Rolls, to support our programming and research initiatives while raising awareness and offering our community a special opportunity to connect.
Giving back on their own time…
Writing supporters help by contributing to the SRNA Blog, working on research summaries, and other written projects.
Administrative supporters help us bring resources to our community (e.g. the SRNA Magazine, podcasts, video recordings from past symposia, information fact sheets).
Skilled and project-based volunteers offer a range of support to the SRNA team, from photographing events to creating a how-to guide to creating illustrations.
Other volunteers help out on-site at events, by sharing SRNA’s posts on social media, as guest speakers, or by participating in other opportunities on an as-needed basis. Whether volunteers give a few hours or help out every week, we are excited and grateful for all of the volunteers who are involved with SRNA!
All week long, we’ve been sharing messages of impact on our social media. Read some of the special messages to volunteers below:
“[Connecting with a peer] was far more enlightening than I thought it would be. I needed to get info from someone to compare experiences. I got that from Jeff. But what I didn’t look for but was pleasantly supplied with was deep empathy from discussing this with someone else the fear, pains, and uncertainty of dealing with this.”
– peer connect participant
“It was great to see everyone’s smiling faces after 3 long years! Kate and Julie did a fantastic job organizing the event. We had a wonderful time catching up with old friends and even met a newly diagnosed patient too. I think that’s what participating in WRNR is all about.”
– Gail, AZ WRNR attendee
“I want to thank all the volunteers that are working so hard to be there for those of us that feel so alone in our illness.”
– Nancy, SRNA community member
We are so grateful for each person who invests their time and energy to support our mission by volunteering. Their dedication is inspiring. Because of volunteers, we are truly Stronger Together.
You can check out all the ways to get involved with SRNA on our website. If you’ve been curious about volunteering with SRNA, we invite you to fill out our volunteer application form, or reach out to [email protected] with any questions. We’d love to learn more about you, your interests and experiences, and help find a role that would be the perfect fit
