This is the third installment in a five-part series on Philanthropy. Its devoted to gifts of time.

If creating your legacy means developing a strategy for the most effective use of your resources, then your time should certainly be considered as one of your resources. Time is a finite resource, which resets daily.

While each of us start with the same amount of time each day, our personal values create different priorities for spending it. For some, time with family has the most value, while others value work as a way to create a larger financial impact. Each person is different, and your overall philanthropic strategy should guide you in determining how to use your time to create your personal legacy.

Traditionally, when considering how gifts of your time contribute to community well being, and humanitarian causes, activities such as volunteering for bake-sales, fun fairs, coaching sports or sitting as a director for a local non-profit group immediately come to mind.

According to Volunteer Canada volunteering builds confidence, competence, connections and community. Involved Canadians build strong and connected communities.

Volunteer Canada is a national organization established to increase participation, quality and diversity of volunteer experiences. Their website contains resources, training, tools, research and programs for organizations to better understand the issues and trends affecting volunteerism.

While volunteerism is certainly an invaluable source of community support, each person can make small changes in their everyday activities which lead to impactful change in the community.

There are plenty of opportunities to gift your time in a way that contributes to the wellbeing of others. You may donate an hour of your time to giving blood or supporting those who do. This gift of yourself and your time, could save up to three lives, and has a dramatic impact on many other people.

Choose to shop local whenever you can. This supports local businesses, who in return support local sports, charities, and service clubs. Consider starting your holiday shopping at the Hospital Auxiliary Gift Shop where proceeds are used to support patient care, or perhaps at a Bazar or other fundraiser hosted by local service groups. It may not always be the most

convenient but choosing to spend your time and money locally is a gift to your community.

If your legacy involves building a sense of community, then small things may matter the most. Say hello to strangers and smile at customer service staff (believe me theyll appreciate it). Reach out to someone who you suspect may be struggling. Check in with them and let them know you will listen. Invite a newcomer over for tea, or to join you at the Santa Claus Parade. Building a sense of community is vital to engaging people in the causes which are important to you but plays an equally important role in solving the root problems of many social issues. Connecting with another person may literally save their life.

Mentoring, or gifting of your time, your experience and your skills can be a formal experience, through programs such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, or more informal through coaching, work or a personal commitment. Mentoring is taking a personal interest in the success of another person and impacts the mentor as much as the mentee.

Whether through a formal commitment to the causes you support, or through your everyday actions, focus on spending your time advancing the ideals that are important to you. Your time is a resource. Be careful how you spend it.

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Gifts of Time - Kincardine News