A Year of Living Generously

A Year of Living Generously follows award-winning journalistLawrence Scanlan as he volunteers with 12 different charities, among them well-known institutions Habitat for Humanity, the St. Vincent de Paul Society and Canadian Crossroads.

Drawing from first-hand experiences - serving in a soup kitchen in Ontario, building houses in post-Katrina New Orleans and teaching at a women’s radio station in Senegal —Scanlan tests the ideas and theories on global aid and philanthropy and makes a compelling case for greater commitment and real connection from us all. The result is an engaging yet informative primer for today’s volunteers, young and old, who are looking to make a meaningful contribution.

A Year of Living Generously follows award-winning journalistLawrence Scanlan as he volunteers with 12 different charities, among them well-known institutions Habitat for Humanity, the St. Vincent de Paul Society and Canadian Crossroads.

Drawing from first-hand experiences - serving in a soup kitchen in Ontario, building houses in post-Katrina New Orleans and teaching at a women’s radio station in Senegal —Scanlan tests the ideas and theories on global aid and philanthropy and makes a compelling case for greater commitment and real connection from us all. The result is an engaging yet informative primer for today’s volunteers, young and old, who are looking to make a meaningful contribution.

1. January: Life at Vinnie’s
The St Vincent de Paul Society-Loretta Hospitality Centre (a soup kitchen) in Kingston, Ont

2. February: Mean Streets
With street nurse Cathy Crowe and the Toronto Disaster Relief Committee confronting homelessness in Toronto

3. March: Amazing Grace
Hospice Palliative Care’s drop-in centre for people in Kingston with terminal illness

4. April: The Welcome Mat
Aiding new immigrants at ISKA (Immigrant Services Kingston & Area)

5. May: Place of Hope
With Horizons of Friendship and AIDS/HIV victims in Costa Rica

6. June: Time Inside
Working with inmates and the John Howard Society, Kingston

7. July: Off to Summer Camp
Helping challenged and able-bodied kids learn to ride a horse at the Dare to Dream therapeutic riding stable, Deseronto, Ont

8. August: Lake Ontario Waterkeepers

9. September: Dusty Makes Her Rounds
Dog therapy with the severely learning-disabled at Ongwanada, Kingston Ont

10. October: Sweat Equity
With Habitat for Humanity on rebuilding projects in the hurricane-ravaged parishes of New Orleans

11. November: English Class on the Rez
At the First Nations Technical Institute near Deseronto, Ontario

12. December: 89.4 on the FM Dial
Teaching journalism at Manooré FM, a community radio station in Senegal for Canadian Crossroads International

Epilogue