As you look for volunteer opportunities, consider your interests and skills. You might ask yourself: ● ●● What projects are important to me and my community? ● Do I want to work directly with people or behind the scenes? ● ●● What special skills and time can I offer? ● What do I want to learn when volunteering? You can volunteer to help people of all ages and backgrounds (Figure 2.19). If you do not find a place to volunteer, you can begin your own community service group. Consider Organ Donation Organ donation is the act of indicating you allow your organs to be donated and transplanted into another person. Usually, this permission takes effect after a person’s death. For example, if you die unexpectedly, organ donation allows a doctor to transplant your organs into someone else. Organ transplants help people and save lives. Some people have serious illnesses or injuries and require organ transplants to continue living. In the US, more than 100,000 people are on lists waiting for an organ. Unfortunately, the US has a serious shortage of donated organs. Twenty people die each day waiting for an organ transplant. To sign up for organ donation, you can visit organdonor.gov, ask about signing up at your local department of motor vehicles, or indicate on your driver’s license that you would like to be an organ donor. Be sure to let your family members know you have signed up. Support Environmental Justice Environmental justice is an aspect of community and world health concerned with populations exposed to harmful environmental and societal factors through no fault of their own. In many cases, low-income communities cannot protect themselves from environmental hazards caused by others. Environmental justice examines questions such as the following: ● ●● Why are food deserts often located within a city’s low-income neighborhoods? ● Do companies build chemical factories next to both low-income and higher-income neighborhoods? ● ● What can people do about air pollution that originates in one place and affects populations far away? ● ● Where should people store hazardous waste so it does not harm nearby communities? ● ● Should a higher-income country send its hazardous electronic waste (e-waste) to a lower-income country for storage or recycling? ● ● What steps can people take to stop businesses from using forced labor, poor working conditions, or unfair wages? To learn more about environmental justice programs and how you can help, you can encourage your school to invite speakers from the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), become a member of the National Resources Defense Council (NDRC), or report environmental justice issues to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). organ donation act of allowing your organs to be donated and transplanted into another person, typically upon your death environmental justice aspect of community and world health concerned with populations exposed to harmful environmental and societal factors through no fault of their own Teens ● ● Form a health club at your school. ● ● Volunteer to tutor your peers. Ways You Can Help Older adults ● ● Volunteer at nursing homes and spend time with residents. Low-income families ● ● Help food pantries collect and distribute food and supplies. ● ● Volunteer at a community garden. People who are homeless ● ● Help shelters collect and distribute clothing, food, and personal care supplies. Figure 2.19 You can help these groups of people in your community by volunteering for various programs and donating or distributing resources. What is the term for volunteering your time and skills to an organization in your community? Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Chapter 2 Health and Wellness Skills 61