International Volunteer Day

No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another. – Charles Dickens

International Volunteer Day 

Today, we celebrate International Volunteer Day for millions of volunteers worldwide to recognize and support the spirit of volunteerism and help create a better future for all – people and the planet.

This year, the campaign recognized the power of collective action: if everyone did. If everyone volunteered, the world would be a better place. Imagine more than eight billion of us volunteering. Limitless possibilities for sustainable development – food and education for everyone, a clean environment and good health, inclusive and peaceful societies, and more.

UN is highlighting the below critical messages about the power of volunteerism in line with the campaign theme:

• Volunteerism is universal and strengthens civic engagement, social inclusion, solidarity, and ownership.
  
  
• A top priority for the United Nations is avoiding climate disasters and reducing global warming. Volunteering makes these goals for tomorrow’s generations more likely to be achieved.
  
  
• Volunteers promote people’s engagement and civic participation, which is key to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

People across the world, UN Agencies and their partners, Member States, and governments across the world have begun IVD celebrations. They are recognizing the contributions and efforts of volunteers and encouraging the spirit of volunteerism through events, activities, conferences, discussions, and volunteer awards.

Volunteer to Fight Hunger  

Resources to Fight Hunger

Feeding America

UNICEF

Meal on Wheels

No KID Hungry

AARP

World Food Program USA

Zero Hunger

Lutheran World Relief

World Central Kitchen

Action Against Hunger

City Harvest

updated 12/04/2025

World Soil Day: The Miracle of Soil

World Soil Day: 

Soil and water provide the foundation for food production, ecosystems, and human well-being. Recognizing their invaluable roles, we can proactively safeguard these resources for future generations.

Soil and Soul

The Miracle of Soil and Water

The Miracle of Soil

1. Soil is the backbone of our food security. Farmers couldn’t provide us with feed, fiber, food, and fuel without healthy soils.

2. Just like a foundation for a home is critical, healthy soils act as a foundation for plants by supporting plant roots and keeping plants upright for growth.

3. Soils act as a pantry for plants, storing and cycling essential nutrients and minerals that plants need to grow.

4. Soils store water for plants. In fact, according to the USDA, “every 1% increase in organic matter results in as much as 25,000 gallons of available soil water per acre.” That’s a lot of water!

5. Soils maintain adequate plant aeration, providing oxygen for microbes, insects, and plant roots.

6. Soils are habitats for beneficial soil microbes; these organisms are nature’s hidden helpers. They form synergistic relationships with plants to protect them from stress and provide them with nutrients, among other tasks. The USDA states, “One teaspoon of healthy soil contains 100 million-to-1 billion individual bacteria alone.”

7. Soils are homes for many other organisms, like insects that lay and hatch eggs in the soil.

8. Soils filter surface water of dust, chemicals, and other contaminants. This is why underground water is one of the cleanest sources of water. In fact, according to Soils.Org, “through natural processes, such as soil absorption, chemical filtration, and nutrient cycle, the Catskill Watershed provides New York City with clean water for $1-to1.5 billion, much less than the $6-to-8 billion one-time costs of constructing a water filtration plant.”

9. Healthy soils help protect the plant from climate change. Columbia University’s Earth Institute says, “Soils remove about 25 percent of the world’s fossil fuel emissions yearly.

10. Healthy soils give farmers better crop yields and protect plants from stress.

11. Regarding human health, almost all of the antibiotics we take to help fight infection were obtained by soil microbes.

12. Healthy soils protect the land from erosion. 

13. Soil is a nonrenewable natural resource. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), forming a centimeter of soil can take hundreds to thousands of years. But that single centimeter of soil can be lost in a year due to erosion.

14. 11% of the total U.S. employment works in the agricultural and food sectors - that’s 2.16 million full- and part-time people working on our soils daily.

15. Soil comprises 45% minerals, 25% water, 5% organic matter and 25% air.

16. Soil acts as a holding facility for solid waste.

17. Soils help regulate the Earth’s temperature.

18. Healthy soils mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events.

19. Archeologists have determined that many sophisticated civilizations, such as the Mayans and the Harappans, fell because they mismanaged their soils.

20. Soils.Org says, “about 70% of the weight of a textbook or glossy paged magazine is soil.”

21. Putting clay soil on your face as a “mud mask” cleanses the skin’s pores.

22. the World Future Council states that “soils help control weeds, plant pests, and disease.”

23. The best china dishes are made from soil.

24. Soil is the foundation of our buildings, roads, houses, and schools. In fact, soil affects how buildings are made.

25. Soil holds Earth’s history, containing artifacts - from dinosaurs to ancient human civilizations - from our Earth’s past. There’s a lot of history stored in soils!

July Wellness News

 

Monthly Events

National Recreation & Parks Month
UV Safety Month
Herbal/Prescription Interaction Awareness Month
International Group B Strep Awareness Month
Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month
Family Reunion Month
National Wheelchair Beautification Month
Sandwich Generation Month
Smart Irrigation Month
National Hemp Month
National Baked Bean Month
National Blueberry Month
National Culinary Arts Month
National Grilling Month
National Horseradish Month
National Hot Dog Month
National Ice Cream Month
National Pickle Month
National Picnic Month
National Watermelon Month
Wheat Month

Daily Events
Wed	1	Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day, National Gingersnap Day
Thu	2	National Anisette Day, Made in the USA Day
Fri	3	Stay out of the Sun Day, Eat Beans Day, International Plastic Bag Free Day, Idaho 43rd State, Chocolate Wafer Day
Sat	4	Independence Day, Caesar Salad Day, National Barbecued Spareribs Day, National Baked Beans Day
Sun	5	Workaholics Day, Graham Cracker Day, National Apple Turnover Day
Mon	6	Take Your Webmaster to Lunch Day, Fried Chicken Day, National Hand Roll Day
Tues	7	Strawberry Sundae Day, Father-Daughter take a walk together day, World Chocolate Day, National Macaroni Day
Wed	8	National Milk Chocolate with Almonds Day, National Freezer Pop Day, Raspberry Day
Thu	9	National Sugar Cookie Day
Fri	10	Teddy Bear Picnic Day, Piña Colada Day, Wyoming 44th State
Sat	11	UN World Population Day, National Blueberry Muffin Day, Rainier Cherry Day, National Mojito Day, Make Your Own Sundae Day, French Fries Day
Sun	12	National Pecan Pie Day, Eat Your Jello Day, Paper Bag Day
Mon	13	National Beans ‘N’ Franks Day, National Nitrogen Ice Cream
Tues	14	Bastille Day, National Mac and Cheese Day, Shark Awareness Day
Wed	15	Gummi Worm Day, National Tapioca Pudding Day
Thu	16	National Corn Fritter Day, Natl Personal Chef Day, National Hot Dog Day
Fri	17
Sat	18	Nelson Mandela Day, National Sour Candy Day
Sun	19	National Blueberry Month, National Daiquiri Day
Mon	20	National Lollipop Day, Fortune Cookie Day, National Ice Cream Day
Tues	21	Junk Food Day
Wed	22	National Penuche Fudge Day, National Mango Day
Thu	23	Gorgeous Grandma Day, National Vanilla Ice Cream Day
Fri	24	Cousins Day, National Drive-Thru Day, Tequila Day, International Self-Care Day
Sat	25	Culinarians Day, National Hot Fudge Sundae Day, National Hire a Veteran Day, National Wine and Cheese Day
Sun	26	Coffee Milkshake Day, Americans with Disabilities Act Signed (1990, Anniversary), National Bagelfest Day, World Tofu Day
Mon	27	Insulin First Isolated, National Creme Brule Day, Parents’ Day
Tues	28	National Milk Chocolate Day
Wed	29	Lasagna Day, National Chicken Wing Day
Thu	30	Cheesecake Day, Chicken and Waffles Day
Fri	31	National Raspberry Cake Day, Jump for Jelly Beans Day, National Avocado Day, Refreshment Day, National Chili Dog Day

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