Ways to Get Involved This Global VolunteerMonth

73% of people believe that volunteering is more important than ever, yet 66% think they can’t make a big impact in their communities. Global Volunteer Month can help point people in the right direction.

“April is an annual opportunity for companies and nonprofits to inspire individuals to action, share stories of those doing good, and create a pathway for continued engagement,” said Diane Quest, interim president and CEO, Points of Light. “Over the past four years since our inaugural Global Volunteer Month, we have seen people increase their commitments to creating a just and equitable world.”

This year, Points of Light is partnering with leading sponsor Phillips 66 and supporting sponsor UPS to encourage individuals, nonprofits and corporate partners to engage in their communities. As part of the campaign, they are sharing four great ways to participate:

Consider working at a local food bank, participating in community clean-up initiatives, or organizing donation drives for local charities. Volunteering as a family not only provides a chance for quality time together but also encourages children to develop empathy and social responsibility. By volunteering, families can strengthen relationships, build community connections, and make a positive impact in their communities.

3. Recognize and Expand What You’re Already Doing: While many of us think about volunteering in a formal way with longer time commitments and structures, civic engagement comes in all forms. Informal actions like helping a neighbor and leveraging your purchase power all make up civic action. Ask yourself: how could I take three to five actions around one cause area that’s important to me to make greater impact? Find out how through the Points of Light Civic Circle

(StatePoint) Global Volunteer Month, celebrated throughout April, is a time to recognize people who actively support their communities through volunteerism and active civic engagement. It’s also a time to get in on the action. However, if you’re like many people, you may not know where to begin.

Research from Points of Light, a global nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring, equipping and mobilizing people to take action that changes the world, shows https://www.pointsoflight.org/civic-circle/.

1. Stay Local: While volunteering with any type of mission can help to better the world, people tend to be more impacted by volunteer opportunities from which they can observe the fruits of their labor. Collaborate with local nonprofits to affect change in the place where you live, work and play. Visit Points of Light Engage, https://engage.pointsoflight.org/, to find an opportunity today in your city or zip code and based on your interests.

2. Volunteer With Friends and Family: Families can support their communities by volunteering together.

4. Say a Simple Thank You: At its core, Global Volunteer Month is about thanking those already volunteering and making an impact. Take a minute to send a thank you to a special volunteer in your life or an organization that is giving its time and talent to make your community stronger.

“There are many paths to living a full, civic life. Now is the perfect time to make a plan to join the celebration, today and every day,” says Quest.

Due to COV-19, the community-wide revitalization project had to be put on hold, but we are excited that it will resume. Mark your calendar for the following Saturday community cleanup dates: April 15th, May 20th, and June 17th.

We will meet at the Black History Museum on 1109 Meigg St. at 8 a.m-12 Noon. Please join us in this effort to "Make Corinth AGreat Place To Live." Take pride in where you reside. For more information, please call Jerry W. Porter at (662) 643-6842.

Seniors Notice More Than Youngsters Do

A new study has shown that we seniors take in more information from the environment. Researchers call it “hyper-encoding,”when we notice more of what’s going on around us and merge it with other information we’re getting at the same time. And we’re 30 percent better at it than our younger counterparts.

Here’s an example:Let’s say you’re with your daughter talking to a friend, Mr. Jones,on the street,listening to what he’s saying. Not only do you listen to him,but you also notice that he’s wearing a red tie and a blue shirt. Later you say to your daughter,“I’d like to buy your father a shirt like Mr. Jones was wearing.”To which your daughter will likely reply:“What shirt? I didn’t notice it.”Not only that, but if you happen to spot that same shirt in a store,you’re more likely to remember where you first saw it.

Does this make us wiser? Perhaps. I suspect we’re better at making decisions because we’ve noticed so much more around us over time. We understand cause and effect because we’ve witnessed events and taken in information,and when new information is presented,we can tie it to the previous events we’ve seen.

We’re good at problem solving,likely because of past experience. We take the parts and pieces and put them together in ways that our younger counterparts don’t. We tend to get good grades in classes we take,likely because we remember old information and tie it to the new.

On the other hand,this reduced ability to filter out extraneous information can explain why many of us find television commercials so annoying. Not only do we remember the content of the show we’re watching,but we can also recall the commercial information,repeated over and over.

Matilda Charles regrets that she cannot personally answer reader questions,but will incorporate them into her column whenever possible.

Write to her in care of King Features Weekly Service,P.O. Box 536475, Orlando,FL 32853-6475,or send email to columnreply@gmail.com.

Viral Infection Can Cause Dizziness

DEAR DR. DONOHUE:I got a sudden attack of dizziness that landed me in bed. I couldn’t stand. Finally,with the help of my husband,I got to the doctor,who said I had a viral infection called vestibular neuritis. I am taking medicine and am somewhat better,but the dizziness isn’t completely gone. Will it go? When? — L.T.

ANSWER:I have to warn readers that the causes of dizziness are diverse,and vestibular neuritis,while common,is only one of many causes. The vestibule of the inner ear has three fluid-filled canals that work like a carpenter’s balance,that gadget whose center contains a fluid-containing tube with a bubble in it. The balance tells the carpenter if a piece of wood is aligned. The inner ear canals tell people if they are aligned. They send signals to the brain that keep us balanced. A viral infection of those canals or of the nerve that sends signals to the brain makes people feel like they’ve been put in the spin cycle of a washer. Not only are affected people dizzy, they become nauseated and often throw up.

Symptoms of vestibular neuritis lessen in two to three days,but full recovery can take up to six or more weeks.

A cortisone drug taken within the first three days of illness can ease symptoms. And medicines like promethazine relieve dizziness and nausea,but they make some people so drowsy that they prefer the dizziness.

The booklet on dizziness discusses vestibular neuritis as well as the other dizziness causes. Readers can obtain a copy by writing:Dr. Donohue — No. 801W,Box 536475,Orlando,FL 32853-6475. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6 Canada with the recipient’s printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery. ***

DEAR DR. DONOHUE:Can you give an explanation of and recommendation for cure of a health problem I have? Being over the age of 65 and in reasonably good health,I suffer every winter from painful cracks in my fingertips and the soles of my feet. — R.V.

ANSWER:The cracking indicates your skin is drying out. You can restore moisture to your fingertips with a light coat — just a dab will do you — of petroleum jelly (Vaseline or another moisturizer) before going to bed. Put Band-Aids over your fingertips,and leave them on all night. You can do the same during the day,but it’s a bit inconvenient. In about three days, the cracks should be filling in. Continue this treatment every third or fourth night.

The same thing works for the feet. You don’t use Band-Aids,but you do cover your feet with socks before going to sleep. Don’t apply petroleum jelly during the daytime. It might make you somewhat unsteady. It takes longer for feet to heal.

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DEAR DR. DONOHUE:Does the consumption of foods packaged or wrapped in aluminum foil pose a risk for contracting or accelerating Alzheimer’s disease? — M.E.

ANSWER:The answer is no. The brains of some Alzheimer’s patients have more than the usual amount of aluminum. Some have interpreted that as indicating aluminum as a cause. Few scientists hold to that theory.

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Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475,Orlando,FL 328536475.

It is our desire to print information accurately. However, mistakes do occur. We apologize for the error printed in the March newspaper photo. The last name listed in the article was incorrect. The correct last name should have been listed as Karen Jarrett. We regret any confusion or inconvenience this may have caused and appreciate your understanding. Thank you.