Why Headache Education and Support Group Leaders are So Important

Recently I found myself reading an old issue of The NonProfit Times, a business publication for the nonprofit sector. As I was leafing through it, I came across an article about the role of government in supporting volunteers, and realized how many of us depend upon volunteerism without being aware of it. I suspect that you may not realize how important a headache education and support group leader is to the National Headache Foundation (NHF), and more specifically, that this role is purely voluntary.

The article highlighted a recent scenario in Minnesota, where the office of Citizenship and Volunteer Services was forced to close due to budgetary restraints. However, according to an adjacent article in that issue, 66% of all Minnesotans volunteer. Now, without this government agency, how will volunteers find training and leads directing them to those in need? While I cannot help those in Minnesota find solutions, I am happy to remind you that the NHF does offer volunteer prospects.

In 1997, the month of April was designated by the U.S. Government to outwardly acknowledge those that lend their time and support to a myriad of organizations, including the NHF. That proclamation also reminds us to take stock of what it means to volunteer at any time of the year, even now as 2008 winds down.

Volunteering for some may be an opportunity to assist individuals in getting to a faith-based service, a physician's appointment or helping them with groceries. In the case of the NHF, support group volunteers lead thought-provoking discussions during monthly meetings and assist Migraine and headache sufferers in finding better tools to manage their condition.

As I finished reading The NonProfit Times article, I thought about how difficult it would be to manage without our NHF volunteers. How would our meetings with the latest information and resources be shared with those who rely upon them? How would we ensure that those who volunteer for NHF have enough assistance from other potential volunteers within their group? Making a decision to devote this post to the question of volunteerism was clearly the right thing to do!

If you already attend a headache or Migraine support group or if you think that there is anything you can do within your existing group, like assisting your leaders with mailings or reminder calls, or even suggesting a potential speaker's name for a group presentation, that would be a step in the right direction. Surely, any offer of support to the facilitators would be greatly welcomed and appreciated. If you don't have a headache and Migraine education and support group in your area, why not consider jumping on the volunteer bandwagon to help establish a local group for those in need? If organizing a group seems more than you can handle at this time, why not volunteer for our e-mail pen pal program? This program allows you to correspond with like-minded headache and Migraine sufferers via e-mail to share your knowledge and support, and hopefully, help yourself in the process.