April brings renewal, and hope. 🌱🌼🌎

Extraordinary times call for ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

SOSers, we find ourselves in a global pandemic that is changing our very way of life. The threat to public health is serious, which is why we have shut down our in-person volunteering and travel programs until further notice. We should all do our part to stay home so that those who can not stay home will be safer as they keep our society running. Healthcare professionals, first responders, grocery store and warehouse workers, custodians, and other essential workers don't have the option to stay home. We must support them in any way that we can. Staying home is the first thing we can do. After that, we can still make a difference: we can be makers, we can be creators, we can be supporters, we can be innovators, we can spread kindness.

As such, we are announcing SOS from Home.

This is our new initiative to allow students to make a difference, earn service hours, and stay safe. We already rolled out our first virtual service event, but we want to hear from you! We will be taking your input to develop service projects and ways to help from home. April is National Volunteer Appreciation month, and we appreciate YOU!!!

SOS was built for students. This situation is undoubtedly difficult for all of you. We mourn with you for the loss of your school year events and social bonds. We stand with you as you face the challenges of school from home, while balancing your responsibilities to your family. We empathize as some face job loss or illness in your family. We are here for you. SOS is a community and reach out if we can support you in any way. Let us know how you're feeling and how you're doing during these times.

Our message to you is keep doing your best. Don't lose faith and hope that things will get better. Things will get better. In this situation, if you are struggling to keep everything going, just remember, these are extraordinary times and we all have to be very forgiving to ourselves under the circumstances and allow for lots of mistakes and imperfections. In fact, imperfections are at the heart of what it means to be human, and given how fragile life is, maybe that’s the best thing we can embrace right now? Focus on what matters, forgive yourselves and others, and love one another and be kind.

Explore from Home!

While we wait to explore the world again, do you want to become a digital explorer?

I challenge you to pick a destination you already visited or would like to visit and create a digital product to be shared on social media for all us to explore the world with you.

Your digital product can earn you service hours upon sharing it with me. Here are some suggestions for products:

A traveling video you created (2 minutes min) 2 hrs of service, each additional minute earns you another hour- upload and share via YouTube. Your video should highlight the countries culture, people and traditions, and some basic geographical facts.

A digital travel poster ½ hour of service

A digital cookbook with recipes and photos 3 hours of service

A digital scavenger hunt 3 hours of service

Teaching a traditional dance or cultural art project via video 3 hours

If you have your own ideas, email me a short proposal of your ideas and I let you know how many service hours you can earn,

Your contribution and/or proposals need to be submitted through Explore Manager Marion Torres at marion@sossanantonio.org .

All products should be shared by no later than April 27,2020.

Thank you. Gracias. Mercí. Dankeschön. 谢谢.Danki. ευχαριστώ. Grazie.

Monthly Newsletter

April 2020

SOS Home T-Shirts

Virtual Volunteer Opportunities

“Thank you!” messages and notes of appreciation to local and global heroes fighting the COVID-19 Pandemic

Explore from Home!