How Idealist Days Inspired This Nurse Anesthetist To Take Action
Megan P. from Greenville, South Carolina has always liked helping other people, and her career as a Nurse Anesthetist allows her to do just that. As a long-time volunteer, Megan enjoys exploring local initiatives with her colleagues, so that they can make a positive impact in their community–together.
“I have always had a passion for volunteering, but as only one person, I found it difficult to make the bigger impacts I desired,” Megan said. “Then I came across Idealist, and it seemed to be just the organization I was looking for to back me up.”
Megan participated in a zoom call with founder Ami Dar speaking about Idealist Days and immediately wanted to get involved. That spark led her to share the concept behind Idealist Days with her colleagues and brainstorm how they could host a Global Community Breakfast themselves.
The "Anesthetist Chapter" of Idealist Days in South Carolina launched soon after.
Making an impact together
The mission is simple: mobilize healthcare professionals and neighbors to give back as part of Idealist Days. Since August 2025, Megan and her co-worker and friend Nick have organized various activities that help support hundreds of families in upstate South Carolina.
Some of their highlights include:
- Fulfilling a wish list for the Ronald McDonald House waiting room in their local hospital and raising $850 for the organization.
- In November, Megan’s group donated $1,400 to help a local food pantry feed families over the holidays.
- In December, Nick and Megan created an Amazon wish list for individuals at Safe Harbor Crisis Center, which helps women and children affected by domestic violence.
- Providing wildflower seeds to Idealist Days participants and talking about the benefits of rewilding yards.
“In 2026, we plan to get more involved in hands-on initiatives, like Habitat for Humanity and litter pickups,” Megan said. “In April we are honoring Idealist Day by participating as a group in a 5K fundraiser to support organ transplant patients in the area.”
What this journey has shown Megan is how incredibly rewarding it is to involve more people in meaningful service. Watching others step up to share their skills, time, and generosity has amplified her impact far beyond what she could do alone.
“It has been so rewarding to get people involved and see the great impact we can make together for our community,” Megan said. “Idealist is the cornerstone of my public service journey, and I am proud to be a part of it and spread the message.”
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If you’re wondering how to launch an Idealist Days group in your local community, here are a few steps to get started:
- Sign up to get involved in Idealist Days, and stay in touch by registering for the free Idealists in Action newsletter, sent monthly.
- Start small by gathering friends, co-workers, or family members to talk about how you can make a positive impact in your local community once a month on Idealist Days.
- As you grow, post your event on Idealist’s Global Calendar via Luma to invite others in your area to join you for projects.
I oversee the content and resources we share at Idealist to help organizations, prospective grad students, and job seekers make an impact in their personal and professional lives. In my spare time, I love to read, cook, and explore NYC's parks.