Let's keep it real-some days, the world feels like a total whirlwind.. Headlines filled with injustice, heartbreak, and uncertainty can leave us feeling exhausted and overwhelmed. And when the problems are this big, what can one person even do?
Here's what we can do: We can choose hope. Not the fluffy, passive kind of hope that just sits around waiting for something to change. I'm talking about gritty, action-packed, roll-up-your-sleeves hope. The kind of hope that gets things done.
Hope is a Verb
Hope isn't just a feeling-it's a choice. It's an action. It's the belief that a better future is possible and the willingness to show up and do something about it. It's the heartbeat behind every movement for justice, every act of kindness, and every moment when someone decides to use their gifts to make the world a little brighter.
Hope is what pushes people to start nonprofits, fight for policy change, and show up for their neighbors in times of crisis. It's what fuels resilience when the odds seem stacked against us. It's the reason teachers keep pouring into students, activists keep organizing, and volunteers keep showing up-week after week, year after year.
Hope is Contagious
Here's the thing: Hope spreads. When one person chooses hope in action, it has a ripple effect. When you see someone step up, speak out, or serve, it reminds you that change is possible and that you have a role to play in it, too.
Think about the communities that come together after natural disasters. The way people step in to rebuild, to share what they have, to care for strangers-this isn't just wishful thinking. This is real, tangible hope in motion.
Or think about the leaders and changemakers throughout history who refused to accept the world as it was and instead dared to imagine what could be. They didn't wait around for permission. They moved-and in doing so, they invited others to move with them.
So, How Do We Live Hope in Action?
If you're ready to put some muscle behind your hope, here are six ways to start:
Use What You Have - You don't have to be a billionaire philanthropist to make a difference. Your skills, your voice, your resources-whatever you've got, use it for good.
Tell the Stories of Goodness - The world needs to hear stories of resilience, generosity, and progress. Share them. Amplify them. Let hope be louder than despair.
Be a Listener - Sometimes, the most powerful thing we can do is listen. Give people space to share their struggles and their dreams. Hope grows in relationships.
Celebrate Small Wins - Change doesn't always happen in sweeping, cinematic moments. It happens in the everyday acts of kindness and courage. Notice them. Name them. Celebrate them.
Don't Wait for Perfect - If you're waiting until you feel totally ready to take action, you'll be waiting forever. Start messy. Start small. Just start.
Show Up - Hope thrives when we take action. Join us for Volunteer Week 2025, April 21-26! United Way of the Midlands has partnered with 30 organizations to enhance education, affordable housing, and healthcare, offering over 120 volunteer opportunities across Newberry, Lexington, Richland, and Orangeburg Counties. Gather a team of 4-10, sign up for an opportunity, and rally your networks to raise $100 each. Then, serve by showing up and making a real impact in our community.
The Future Belongs to the Hopeful
Here's what we believe at United Way of the Midlands: Hope is not naive. It's not weakness. It's not denial of the real challenges we face. Hope is strength. Hope is resilience. Hope is power.
And if we want a better, more just, more compassionate world, we don't have the luxury of sitting on the sidelines. We have to be the ones who go first.
So let's get moving. Let's show up. Let's be the kind of people who make hope impossible to ignore. Because the future doesn't belong to those who wait-it belongs to those who hope and take action.
-Laura Gould
Quick Links for Volunteer Week Opportunities:
Brookland-Lakeview Empowerment Center - Sign Up
Alston Wilkes Society - Sign Up
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands - Sign Up
Edisto Habitat for Humanity - Sign Up
Free Medical Clinic of Newberry County - Sign Up
Girl Scouts of SC - Mountains to Midlands - Sign Up
Good Samaritan Clinic - Sign Up
Habitat for Humanity Central South Carolina - Sign Up
Harvest Hope Food Bank - Sign Up
Home Works of America - Sign Up
Indian Waters Council, Scouting America - Sign Up
Keep the Midlands Beautiful - Sign Up
Latino Community Development - Sign Up
Mission Lexington - Sign Up
Newberry County First Steps - Sign Up
Palmetto Place Children & Youth Services - Sign Up
Palmetto Conservation - Sign Up
Pathways to Healing - Sign Up
Rapid Shelter Columbia - Sign Up
Richland First Steps - Sign Up
Senior Resources - Sign Up
Serve and Connect - Sign Up
Sistercare - Sign Up
The Cooperative Ministry - Sign Up
The Free Medical Clinic, Inc. - Sign Up
The Hive Community Circle - Sign Up
The Salvation Army of the Midlands - Sign Up
Transitions Homeless Center - Sign Up
United Way of the Midlands Book Bunny - Sign Up
Vital Connections of the Midlands - Sign Up
Camp Cole - Sign Up
United Way of the Midlands MRC at Forest Lake - Sign Up
