So this year I started volunteering with a group here in Chicago called, smartly, Chicago Cares. If every city had an organization like this in it, I'm convinced everyone would volunteer more.

In a year filled with lots of changes to my life, volunteering on a regular basis has been one of the best ones by far. I've met really awesome people and it's forced me to get beyond myself and my problems and take serious stock of things. Once you start realizing that there is a world full of people who could use you, you tend to see your worth as a person is more than just the superficial nonsense we preoccupy our lives with.

I challenged my girlfriends to join me - along with my fellow Chicago Sun-Times employees - for the Chicago Cares Serve-a-Thon. So says the site: The Annual Chicago Cares Serve-a-thon is the largest single day of community service in Chicago. Thousands of volunteers will come together to paint, plant and beautify our city’s schools, parks and social service agencies. The pledges these volunteers raise will support Chicago Cares’ year-round service initiatives.

It's a totally rockin' event and we're all excited and instead of the money we'd spend on going out for a Girls' Night, we're donating it to the project. And you know I never ask you guys for money, but how about just this once you toss a few bucks towards sponsoring me for the event?

If you're interested, click on this link and donate away. Your money is going towards a great cause and I'd be forever grateful!

As an aside, if you're a Chicagoan, consider hooking up with the fine people at Chicago Cares and start volunteering yourself!

UPDATE!! Several of you have emailed me to say that your respective cities have organizations just like Chicago Cares and Elizabeth says "they're all part of the Hands On Network" and you can find a list of participating cities at their site!

Posted by Erin at 11:59 AM | filed under: Chicago