Volunteer

Brain Science: The Powerful Benefits of Community Service

QHR Christian Family Movement Volunteers

Have you ever noticed how good it feels to help someone else? Whether you volunteer your time, donate essentials, or simply lend a hand, acts of community service spark something powerful inside of us. Science confirms what our hearts already know—helping others is good for the brain.

The Science Behind the “Helper’s High”

When you engage in community service, your brain releases a surge of “feel-good” chemicals like dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphins. This rush is often referred to as the “helper’s high.” Researchers have found that volunteering activates the brain’s reward centers in the same way eating your favorite food or hearing your favorite song does. (Source)

In other words, when you volunteer, your brain thanks you.

Stress Reduction Through Giving Back

Serving others doesn’t just make you feel happier—it also lowers stress. Studies show that individuals who regularly participate in community service have lower blood pressure and reduced levels of cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone. (Source)

When we take time to step outside of our own worries and focus on helping others, our nervous system calms, and our perspective shifts. The act of giving reminds us of the bigger picture, creating space for gratitude and resilience.

Volunteering Strengthens Connection and Purpose

Humans are wired for connection. When you volunteer, you’re not just giving your time—you’re building meaningful bonds with others. Whether it’s packing hygiene kits, serving meals, or tutoring students, acts of community service foster teamwork and belonging.

Brain science shows that social connections are key to long-term happiness. Volunteering provides a sense of purpose and community, which research links to longer life expectancy and improved mental health.

A Win-Win for Everyone

The beauty of community service is that it benefits both the giver and the receiver. When you volunteer, you’re restoring dignity and hope to others, while also improving your own well-being. It’s one of the rare activities in life where everyone wins.

At Giving the Basics, we see this every day. Volunteers leave our warehouse with smiles, laughter, and a renewed sense of joy—because their brains (and hearts) are experiencing the benefits of giving.

Happy Helpers in August

KC Athenaeum Volunteers

We are so thankful to the community groups who volunteered with us in August. In addition to corporate volunteer groups, we hosted a total of 300 volunteers who packed 303,889 hygiene items for people in need. Volunteers are essential to our ability to provide hygiene access to more than 3.4 million people every single month.

Ready to Experience the Science for Yourself?

If you want to boost your mood, lower your stress, and find deeper purpose, try volunteering. Your brain will reward you—and so will your community.

👉 Sign Up to Volunteer with Giving the Basics Today

Related Links:

• QHR Christian Family Movement
• KC Athenaeum

Community Service that Inspires, Educates, and Lasts a Lifetime

When kids get involved in community service, something amazing happens: they begin to see the world beyond themselves. This month at Giving the Basics, we were inspired by the energy, compassion, and joy that young volunteers brought through our doors. From sorting hygiene items to learning why access to basic dignity products matters, these kids weren’t just helping—they were growing.

Why do we believe community service is so important for kids? Because it builds empathy, responsibility, and teamwork. It shows them the power of small actions, and how their hands can make a big difference. It’s education in action—teaching compassion while doing something that really matters.

“It made me feel good to help people who don’t have the stuff I use every day.” – 4th grader, Grace United
“Our kids asked if they could come back next week. That’s when you know it really clicked.” – St. Thomas the Apostle

This Month’s All-Star Community Volunteers

Here’s a round of applause for the amazing groups who showed up and served with heart:

• Lake Quivira Mothers Club – Empowering little ones to lend a hand and model compassion.
• McGroder Neighborhood Friends – Neighbors coming together to make an impact with their kids.
• St. Thomas Apostle Camp – Bringing summer camp energy to real-world giving.
• Rejoice Circle – St. Luke’s UMC – A joyful group dedicated to faith in action.
• Kansas City Young Matrons – Longtime advocates for service, bringing the next generation with them.
• Grace United 4th and 5th Grade – Students learning how community service builds stronger communities.
• The Farmer’s House – Advocating for inclusion and hands-on learning through volunteer service.

Each group gave time, laughter, and effort—and reminded us that community service is better when we do it together.

Education is Essential: Why Kids Should Volunteer

Kids who participate in community service don’t just help others—they gain confidence, learn gratitude, and develop leadership skills early. It gives them a sense of purpose, especially when they can see the direct impact of their efforts. At Giving the Basics, we believe this is where true education happens—when kids learn how to serve, advocate, and lead.

Want to raise compassionate, civic-minded kids? Bring them to volunteer. It’s fun, meaningful, and absolutely unforgettable.

Get Involved: Volunteer or Host a Drive!

Ready to jump in with your family, classroom, camp, or neighborhood group? Here’s how:

Volunteer Together – Bring your kids or youth group to help sort hygiene items.
Host a Drive – Collect items like soap, toothpaste, and deodorant in your school or neighborhood.
Spread the Word – Share your community service experience on social media and tag us!

Together, we can teach the next generation the value of dignity, service, and giving back.

H&R Block Volunteers: https://www.hrblock.com/

Volunteer. Corporate Donations. Dignity Drive.

This month at Giving the Basics, our warehouse was filled with more than hygiene products—it was filled with purpose. Teams from across Kansas City put aside their job titles and to-do lists to pack dignity into boxes that will soon make their way to schools, shelters, and community partners across our region.

Corporate volunteering this month showed us that showing up is more than a gesture—it’s a statement of values. It’s about building dignity, fostering connection, and doing good that lasts.

Building Something Bigger Than Boxes

From HR professionals to marketing teams, warehouse workers to wealth managers, people came together to do something real. And it made a difference—not only in the lives of those receiving the items but also for those giving their time.

Hallmark Volunteers: www.hallmark.com

“I went to grade school with a boy who was constantly teased and bullied for being dirty and smelling bad… Looking back, I’m sure it wasn’t his choice in any way.”
— Hallmark volunteer

When we hear stories like this, it becomes clear: hygiene isn’t just about cleanliness. It’s about dignity. It’s about confidence. And sometimes, it’s about getting a fair shot in the classroom, on the playground, or in the workplace.

Corporate Culture with Heart

What stood out this month wasn’t just the volume of work done—it was the heart behind it. Each volunteer brought their own story, their own motivation. Some came with their entire team. Others joined for the first time and left changed.

Scheels Volunteers: www.scheels.com

“A great reminder to have compassion—you never know what people are going through. We take the basics for granted when they really are so important.”
— Treasure Advertising

“I am motivated to volunteer here more often with my family, friends, and my company!”
— Mariner Wealth

Royals Wives Step Up to the Plate

One of this month’s biggest highlights? The wives of Kansas City Royals players rolled up their sleeves and got to work—packing a huge amount of inventory that will directly support local families in need. Their enthusiasm, humility, and teamwork were as impressive as any game-day performance.

Royals Volunteers: www.mlb.com/royals/community/foundation

“Thank you for allowing the women of the KC Royals to work with Giving the Basics today! Giving back and serving our community is such an uplifting experience! We will be back!”
— Royals KC

Their visit wasn’t just meaningful for us—it inspired the other groups who volunteered that day. It was a reminder that no matter your platform, showing up is what matters most.

What We’ve Done So Far This Month

• Corporate groups volunteered: 16
• Individual volunteers: 418
• Hygiene items packaged: 202,621

Thank you to all the corporate groups who joined us this month!

This Is What Impact Looks Like

Whether it’s a company-wide initiative or a quick team-building outing, volunteering at Giving the Basics creates real results—both in the warehouse and in the hearts of those who serve.

“My heart was changed. I am humbled to be able to support the community. It truly takes a village to survive in this world.”
— Blue KC

If you’ve been looking for a way to bring your team together, create a legacy of giving, or connect your work life to a greater purpose—this is your sign.

Ready to Rally Your Team?

We make it easy. The space is clean and accessible, the mission is compelling, and the impact is measurable. And we’re always ready to welcome new groups who want to build stronger teams and a more dignified community.

Host a dignity drive. Volunteer with your coworkers. Become a Sponsor.

Sign up your corporate group today at givingthebasics.org.

Because when we give the basics, we give people the chance to thrive.

When it comes to community service, students across Kansas City are showing up—and standing out. This month, groups of student volunteers turned the Hygiene Hub into a place of joy, purpose, and connection. But they didn’t just come to fulfill hours. They came to serve, learn, and experience firsthand what it means to care for others in meaningful, lasting ways.

Beyond Community Service: Why Students Keep Coming Back

At first, many students come to Giving the Basics to check a box—school service requirements, confirmation hours, or campus involvement. But something shifts when they walk through the doors of the Hygiene Hub. They realize quickly that this isn’t just another volunteer gig. The atmosphere is full of energy, music, and laughter. The work is hands-on and meaningful. Most importantly, they see—sometimes for the first time—how small acts of service meet real, urgent needs.

They sort hygiene products that will restore dignity to someone’s day. They pack boxes that help kids stay in school and adults stay employed. They hear stories of how basic hygiene items—often taken for granted—can be life-changing. And they walk away knowing they were part of that change.

Students tell us that they enjoy the environment, the teamwork, and the impact. Many come back again and again, not because they have to—but because they want to. They discover a sense of purpose, and they leave feeling proud of the difference they’ve made.

This month’s amazing community groups:

St. Elizabeth 8th Grade: These young leaders brought incredible energy and teamwork. They dove into the work with curiosity and compassion.

Oxford Middle School: With bright minds and big hearts, these students reminded us why the future looks so promising.

Down Syndrome Innovations: Their team brought so much joy and dedication to the Hygiene Hub. Every task became a celebration of inclusion and service.

QHR Family Movement: With parents and students serving together, this group showed what family volunteering is all about—building values and bonds at the same time.

Rockhurst University: These college students made a huge impact. One university volunteer shared:

“My previous employer, a local inner-city high school, utilized Giving the Basics. It was a game changer for our students, who often had multiple challenges to face. This allowed them to direct worry elsewhere. Thank you!”

It’s stories like these that make us grateful every day. When students engage with Giving the Basics, they’re not just fulfilling service hours—they’re joining a movement that restores dignity, lifts burdens, and empowers families to thrive.

Want to make an impact, too?

Whether you’re volunteering as a student, with coworkers, or alongside family and friends, there’s a place for you at the Hygiene Hub. Every hour spent here helps restore dignity, ease burdens, and bring hope to someone in need. Join us—and see how something as simple as giving your time can create a powerful ripple of change.

Get involved today — Sign up to volunteer or follow us on Facebook to stay connected.

On May 27th, Giving the Basics was honored to welcome several wives of the Kansas City Royals for a hands-on volunteer shift that made a lasting impact.
Gathered around tables in our warehouse, the Royals wives spent their morning cutting bars of soap and boxing up essential hygiene items—simple products that restore dignity, confidence, and wellness to individuals and families across Kansas City.

“The community gives so much to us—by coming out to the games and supporting us,” said Sarah Wacha, wife of Royals pitcher Michael Wacha. “We’re excited for the opportunity to give back by volunteering for this organization that helps so many people.”

Their presence not only brought energy and compassion to the day—it also helped amplify our mission. The event was covered by KMBC 9 News and KSHB Channel 41, spreading awareness about the ongoing need for basic hygiene items in our schools, shelters, and neighborhoods.

Why Volunteer?

At Giving the Basics, we know that volunteers are the heart of our mission. Whether it’s sorting supplies, filling orders, or loading boxes for schools, every task helps ensure that no child, parent, or neighbor has to go without soap, deodorant, toothpaste, or period products.

“It was such a fun time to get together and help do good to serve the Kansas City community! I can’t imagine what the people who receive these items go through to have to go without the basics and I am so happy to see a foundation like Giving the Basics to meet that need! I can’t wait to come back!” says Tori Ragans, wife of pitcher Cole Ragans.

Want to Volunteer Like the Royals Wives?

You don’t have to be part of a major league team to help! Whether you’re an individual, a corporate group, or a family looking to serve together, Giving the Basics has meaningful volunteer opportunities for you.