Our mission is to create a culture of volunteerism by promoting servant leadership, inspiring small acts of kindness. SOILK seeks nothing less than to a establish a movement of volunteers who are making a difference in their communities with dedication, commitment and kindness.
What Is SOILK?
We're Volunteers Creating More Volunteers!
How It Works
SOILK works like a board game. There are rules and agreements that guide how we operate. We work inside of quarters and each quarter we set a goal for how many hours of volunteering we will collectively accomplish.
Each week we report and tally the results to see how far we have to go to meet the quarterly goal. The team with the most hours each week wins a cash prize for that week. We meet on Zoom (for 30 min) to share what we've done in the last week. We acknowledge and motivate each other to continue into the next week's activities. We share stories, stay connected and build strong friendships with each other.
At the end of the quarter, teams with the most volunteer hours win a luxurious first place prize, either cash or a vacation. 2nd and 3rd place teams also win cash prizes. Then we start over newly in the next quarter with new teams, team members and goals.
Why Do We Do it?
Quite frankly, we do it for the fun of it and the inherent benefits of giving. Giving feels good and helping others is an important way to give back. Prizes contribute to creating a fun and inspiring atmosphere to volunteer in creating a culture of joy and connection.
Come and Join Us!
Anyone, anywhere is welcome to participate. No one is left behind or turned away. Give how it works best for you on your own time. The only requirement is to volunteer 1 hour or more per week and report your results each week.
The Benefits of Volunteering
Volunteering with SOILK is more than just giving back—it’s about growing, connecting, and creating meaningful change. When you volunteer, you’ll discover benefits that enrich your life as much as the lives of those you help.
1. Make a Real Impact
Your time and skills can transform lives. Whether you’re helping with a community event or supporting families in need, every action you take makes a tangible difference.
2. Build Lifelong Connections
Volunteering brings you into a community of compassionate, like-minded individuals. Together, we foster relationships that inspire and uplift while working toward a shared purpose.
3. Develop New Skills
Expand your skill set and gain hands-on experience in areas like event coordination, leadership, and community outreach. Volunteering is also a great way to enhance your resume and professional network.
4. Boost Your Mental and Emotional Well-Being
Giving your time to help others creates a sense of fulfillment, reduces stress, and improves your overall happiness. Research shows that volunteering can even contribute to better mental health.
5. Be a Role Model
Inspire your family, friends, and community to take action by setting an example. Show others how meaningful it is to give back and lead with kindness.
6. Leave a Lasting Legacy
Your contributions don’t just help today—they create ripple effects that benefit future generations. Together, we can build a stronger, more compassionate community.
Ready to Experience the Benefits of Volunteering?
Join us today and start making a difference. Together, we can achieve extraordinary things!
The Impact of Volunteering on Communities, Families & People
Volunteering is a cornerstone of thriving societies. It strengthens communities, uplifts families, and transforms lives in ways that ripple far beyond the act of service. At SOILK, we witness the profound impact volunteers make every day.
Create an Impact on Local:
Communities
Families
Individuals
Building Stronger Bonds: Volunteering brings people together, creating connections across different backgrounds and fostering a sense of unity.
Addressing Local Needs:
Volunteers help meet critical challenges like food insecurity, education gaps, and access to essential resources.
Inspiring a Culture of Kindness:
One act of service inspires others, creating a cycle of generosity that transforms entire neighborhoods.
Providing Stability:
Families facing financial or emotional hardships often find relief through the support of volunteers who step in with care and resources.
Strengthening Ties:
Volunteer programs often bring families closer by giving them opportunities to serve together and create lasting memories.
Empowering Resilience:
Through mentoring, education, and support, volunteers empower families to overcome challenges and build brighter futures.
Restoring Dignity: For people facing difficult times, a simple act of kindness can restore their sense of worth and hope.
Creating Opportunities: Volunteers often provide mentorship, training, and encouragement that help individuals realize their potential and achieve personal growth.
Fostering Connection: Loneliness and isolation can be alleviated through meaningful interactions with volunteers who genuinely care.
What Our Volunteers Are Saying
"Allying with SOILK has been a wonderful way to enrich my volunteering experience. Being able to hear about the selfless acts of others working to enhance their communities, and sharing my own efforts, as well, has been a truly uplifting experience."
"Great cause. The senior leadership is fantastic. Great group of people. Very helpful and giving. You are especially inspiring with all the time, effort, and creativity that you bring. What I like about the cause is that it’s not judgmental at all. Any bit of kindness is appreciated."
"I've been part of SOILK since the beginning and it has brought purpose and accountability to my life."
"I have a passion for serving others and being part of this team! We have joined together to create a movement that strives to enrich the lives around us by volunteering our time and resources!"
"It’s the accountability I didn’t know I needed and the check in with a friend I look forward to once a week now even if it’s a simple thing like how was your week and what did you do to help others? I love hearing what others did and it creates ideas for more. The beauty that comes from inspiring others to do the same while helping people along the way, whether you meet them or not, is such an affirmation and testament to those who take that first step by joining a team. I appreciate the ask to join and love continuing my work of volunteering and helping others. The fact that you can do 1 hr a week gives flexibility, and you don’t even realize how much you do for others until you start to track it. All of this helps my depression and anxiety and gives a purposeful way to introduce myself to new people too."
"It was effortless to get hours in, as I volunteer yearly to help with Football concessions and already going to parades, so simple just to pick up trash along the route. I hope to Join the group again as I love the mission. It is great to extend kindness to the world."
"I enjoy doing for others. That is just who I am. I retired at 77 in the spring of 2024 from an active and social, managers position, which fulfilled the serving need in me, to finding myself with an empty Calendar. That was hard to take. I felt lost and empty. The team gave me a purpose and a reason to look forward to each week. Even though I volunteer weekly, I needed the interaction with others who also volunteered. Hearing about the unique ways you can volunteer encouraged and inspired me to keep volunteering. I am thankful to SOILK (Serving Others in Loving Kindness) for helping me make the transition to retirement much easier."
"Thank you so much for everything. What we are doing is great and I like doing my volunteer work. If I could, I would volunteer way more. I honestly love it and making me feel like I’m making a difference is a great feeling. The dogs are happy which also makes me happy. I’ve noticed I’m in a better mood when I leave the humane society."
"Volunteering has gotten me out of the house and doing things I wouldn't otherwise be doing. It's rewarding to be part of a group of people who are dedicated to changing the world a little at a time."