Volunteer Possibilities in the Eating Disorder Community During the Summer

Contributor: Crystal Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLC, Director of Content and Social Media at Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope

With summer in full swing, you may be settling into a new routine for the season that includes some work, school, relaxing, traveling, and more.

Whether you have been directly impacted by an eating disorder or not, you may be curious about ways you can begin to be more involved with the eating disorder community, either as a means of learning more about these illnesses and ways to help others, out of a desire to be involved with advocacy work, or to support a loved one or friend who is walking through their own recovery journey.

Whatever your reason may be, there are several ways to be involved with the eating disorder community, and you will likely find this type of work rewarding and fulfilling. Even if you can only volunteer during the summer months, when your schedule or commitments might be lighter than usual, you can make an impact and a difference with your time and efforts.

Volunteer Possibilities With Different Organizations

The wonderful thing is that there are many different eating disorder organizations in the community that are all striving towards the greater good of those who are suffering, their loved ones, and family members. Determine what area you might be interested in as a place for starters. Are you curious about advocacy efforts? Do you want to be involved on the research front? Are you interested in learning more about a certain profession within the community?

For starters, consider partnering with many of the Non-Profit Organizations within the eating disorder community, such as the National Eating Disorder Association, Project Heal, the Eating Disorder Coalition, the Binge Eating Disorder Association, the International Association for Eating Disorder Professionals, and the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, to name a few.

There are countless of ways to partner with these organizations to help benefit the eating disorder community, such as volunteering at a fundraising event, participating in a walk to raise awareness, helping promote legislation efforts, and more!

Check out the Non-Profit page on Eating Disorder Hope to learn more about ways you can volunteer in the eating disorder community today.

Community Discussion – Share your thoughts here!

What are some ways you have contributed time and effort to the eating disorder community?

About the Author: Crystal is a Masters-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) with a specialty focus in eating disorders, maternal/child health and wellness, and intuitive eating. Combining clinical experience with a love of social media and writing, Crystal serves as the Special Projects Coordinator for Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope, where her passion to help others find recovery and healing is integrated into each part of her work.

As a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, Crystal has dedicated her career to helping others establish a healthy relationship with food and body through her work with EDH/AH and nutrition private practice.

The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of eating disorders. These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope, but an effort to offer discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.

We at Eating Disorder Hope understand that eating disorders result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.

Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on July 8, 2016
Published on EatingDisorderHope.com