After we watch that priceless Waterford Crystal ball drop in Times Square to bring in a new year, once all the hugging and kissing is over, and the streamers, hats, half-eaten goodies are cleared away, our first test of 2011 will be our resolution(s).

When promising ourselves we will get fit in the coming year, and we will eat more healthy foods, we realize these have been our resolutions for a few years.

This year, why not try something that will make you feel good, will make someone else feel good and you might even stick to the plan. Why not do one thing for someone else at least once a week? Once a day would be nice but that’s probably not quite as easy to achieve.

Depending on your choice of resolution, it might not even cost you anything but a little time and some caring. Each of us can do something to make both our own life and that of someone else a little better.

There are four main channels for volunteering in Moore County: Retired Seniors Volunteer Program (RSVP), Moore County Regional Hospital, Sandhills Moore County Coalition for Human Care and Moore County Schools. All of these groups have volunteer coordinators who will greet you with open arms and try to match your interests to needs in our county. The RSVP director, Shiela Klein, provides volunteers for many organizations. That’s a good place to start.

You can help a child with her reading, visit a shut-in, help Coalition clients get transportation, food or other basic assistance, be that friendly face for patients and family or assist where needed at a nursing home.

A huge need in the county involves volunteer drivers for home delivered meals for the Department of Aging and for Meals on Wheels. The SnackPak Pal program, which provides weekend food for those getting meals from either aforementioned group needs food donations (small cereal boxes, puddings, fruit, soup, noodles, etc.) Donations of money are also helpful. You could buy one item a week, or give a dollar a week, which adds up.

It’s no secret that government funds for many programs are being cut while the need for these programs increases. If each of us resolved to do one small thing for our community regularly during the year, we’d make quite a difference.

We can also make a quiet difference in our neighborhoods, church groups, etc. You may not realize that a neighbor just a few doors away is alone, hungry, lonely or in need of something as simple as a human connection. You could achieve your exercise goal by walking to visit that person.

Bill Russell, one of our great Santas in the area refers to his volunteering as Santa as his way of “paying it forward”. In this great network of humanity of which we are part, one person can make a huge difference and can influence someone else who influences another. This is a rewarding way to be part of the human race. We are not alone. We need to resolve that in 2011 to share whatever riches we have – perhaps some money, but our time, our spirit, our own being. Happy New Year!

E-mail Ann Robson at outreachnc@connectnc.com.