Volunteering Changes Lives-Including Your Own!

Winston Churchill once said, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” Perhaps the best example of this is volunteering. Volunteering can make a positive difference in your community and in the lives of other people, while also making a positive difference in your own life. It can also be a great way to learn new things and meet new people.

Volunteering can be especially beneficial for those who have experienced a personal loss or are motivated to help others affected by a catastrophic event they have seen on the news. In certain situations, volunteering can help a person cope with feelings of helplessness and despair. People who have lost a loved one to cancer, for example, may find strength and courage by volunteering for the American Cancer Society. Those who have been the victim of a violent crime may find empowerment by helping others struggling with a similar experience.

Regardless of your age, your financial position, your level of education, or your ethnicity, you have something to give that can benefit others. So, where do you start?

Find Your Niche

Volunteering provides you with an opportunity to choose a cause that you care about passionately. If you love children, for example, you may want to become a Big Brother or Big Sister, a summer camp counselor, or even a volunteer for a literacy program at your local library. If you want to help children with special needs, you could volunteer with the Special Olympics. Even if you volunteer for just one hour a week, you benefit from enjoying time with children, and the children benefit from your time and attention.

Maybe the holidays are difficult because your parents are divorced or you live far away from family and friends. Rather than staying home alone, why not volunteer your time over the holiday season? Serve Thanksgiving dinner to the homeless, volunteer at a local food bank, collect toys for abused children, or read aloud to residents at a local nursing home.

If you are especially fond of animals, contact your local animal shelter. They may need volunteers to walk dogs, provide care and socialization, or even train animals to assist individuals who are elderly or disabled. You may even be able to provide foster care for an abandoned kitten or an elderly dog.

Whether you are interested in politics, the environment, health-related causes, knitting, baking, or reading, there is a volunteer opportunity for you.

Before contacting a specific organization, consider the following questions:

• Why do you want to volunteer?
• What causes are important to you?
• How many hours a week/month will you be available?
• What are your primary interests?
• Do you have any special skills?
• What do you hope to take away from the volunteering experience?

After you have answered these questions, start looking for organizations that may need volunteers. You may check the newspaper, the phone book, the Internet, or the library.

Volunteering is a great way to enrich your life and the lives of those around you. Give it a try and see if it’s not a win-win situation!

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