Making time to volunteer can benefit you as well as the people you are helping. Volunteering allows you to meet new people, learn new skills, gain confidence, make a difference, become part of the community and have fun all at the same time. As a business, even encouraging your employees to engage in volunteering can boost loyalty and moral among coworkers. But with over 641 nonprofit organizations in Gwinnett, how do you decide which charity deserves your time and resources? Frankly, all organizations need our help, but narrowing down the nonprofits by category can help you find an organization that fits your passion. We narrowed it down to the category of Health and Human Services (HHS). HHS Services focuses on “protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves.” – U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. If this nonprofit sector interests you, we hope to offer you some insight about a few Gwinnett HHS organizations that spoke at our latest Leadership Gwinnett Learning Day. Donating and volunteering are obvious ways to contribute, but we wanted to provide a list of unique ways you can give to these amazing organizations: Annandale Village– This Suwanee nonprofit serves to provide progressive life assistance to adults with intellectual disabilities and traumatic brain injuries while maintaining their independence. Ways to help:

• Event participation–  5k, Jazzy Thing Festival, and their annual Kiss-a-PIG campaign
• Memorial or honorarium gifts– a personalized card will be sent to the family or the person attributed
• Corporate gift matching– a fun way to build comradery in the workplace
• Sponsoring and partnership–a create way to advertise for your business while helping a great cause

Gwinnett Coalition– Located in Lawrenceville, The Gwinnett Coalition strives to facilitate collaboration that improves the well-being of our community. Ways to help:

• Education– join one of their volunteer-based programs to help educate our community
• Basic needs– join a team focused around veterans, emergency assistance, or senior issues
• Youth volunteering– get your 12-18-year-olds engaged!
• Committees– join a wellness committee

North Gwinnett Co-op– This faith-based charity in Buford offers basic needs to people living in Sugar Hill, Buford and Suwanee. They provide food, clothes, utility assistance and prescription medication. Ways to help:

• Work groups– friends or coworkers in groups of 5 or more can volunteer together
• Thrift store assistant– help at their Second Blessings clothing store
• Court-ordered community service

Rainbow Village– This organization in Duluth aims to break the cycle of homelessness, poverty and domestic violence by providing a transforming community to those in need. Ways to help:

• After school classes– volunteer with children in an educational program
• Administrative support– help in their store, office or classrooms
• Advocacy– help dispel the myths about homelessness in Gwinnett

Salt Light Emergency Homeless Shelter– This night-to-night emergency shelter provides a safe bed, hot shower, and a meal to women and their children, right here in Lawrenceville. Ways to help:

• Cook a meal– help feed dinner to these women and their children
• Spend the night– you and a friend stay overnight to accompany the guests

There are many other types of nonprofits that need your help if health and human services doesn’t interest you. Check them out!