Volunteering Matters

After hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, my dad and his wife went with a group of Laborers for Christ and spent months helping with the clean-up efforts.  I took Jacob, who was 13 at the time, with me over spring break to spend a night and help Dad help those people.  The picture to the left is a great reminder of the important volunteer work we did that day.  Today's guest post reminds us why volunteering matters.

Getting Started: Volunteering

Our lives are pretty much a routine of things that we must and need to do. We wake up, eat, go to work, get home, clean, work some more, eat and then go to bed. And repeat. How about trying to do something that you don’t need to do but what you want to do. Volunteering is a great way to change your life up; it gets you involved with your community by doing good deeds for those who cannot do it for themselves.

There are many different types of volunteering organizations. There are organizations that are based on age, race, disabilities, abilities, social issues, economic issues, community needs and much more. Most cities have local soup kitchens that feed and help those who cannot help themselves. You can volunteer your time at your local animal shelter or help organizing events with a young professionals group. There are many ways to give back.

Finding the best organization means volunteering with an organization that means something to you. Read their mission statement and speak with other members and see if it is something you are willing to spend your own time on. Think about what you will take pride in doing, be it working with troubled teens or donating blood. There is an organization for you that needs your help!

There are many organizations that are non-profit. According to Wikipedia, Nonprofits are organizations that use surplus revenues to achieve their goals rather than to distribute them as profit or dividends. As a volunteer, you are vital because so many nonprofits rely on volunteers to help them reach their goal. A more personal reason to volunteer is to make yourself feel good. Once you know we have touched someone’s life, your self-esteem and self-worth shoot through the roof. Suddenly all of your personal problems seem trivial and your life seems a little more manageable.

The best way to get started is to just jump in! Search online by looking at larger organizations and finding a branch in your city. Or ask around and talk with your friends and family for advice on organizations. Whether you tutor children or take your dog to the local nursing home, you are changing someone’s life, including yours. Happy Volunteering!

Author Bio

Sara is an active nanny as well as an active freelance writer. She is a frequent contributor of nanny agency.  You can reach her at saradawkins61ATgmail.com.