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Volunteering & Volunteerism
So, I know we are all busy with our busy, busy lives. Why add another thing to do on your TO DO list? Sometimes you have to make time to do just one more, and this is it--Volunteering. Some of you may have started at a young age for school or with your parents and some of you may have never volunteered in your life. That's okay. It's better to start and do than to never do at all.
To get started you need to find a volunteering opportunity that you will enjoy doing and going to do it. Such as if you like cooking, volunteer at a kitchen; if you like animals, volunteer at an animal shelter or at the zoo; if you like to drive, volunteer at a group home to chauffeur the residents. There are many more options and probably more than you have ever heard of. Volunteer for what you want to do because if you don't, you will eventually feel like it is an obligation, a chore, and you will hate doing it. But first you have to get started and that is the toughest for most people--getting started.
Volunteering isn't something to do to make you a good citizen, which it does, but you are also giving back to the community you live in. If you live in an area by yourself or you are new to the area, this helps build relationships and in helping you meet other people. Volunteering also breaks down barriers--you are exposed to more than you are comfortable with and this helps you grow into a more compassionate and understanding person. It also makes you appreciate what you have and all that you have, knowing that it could all be gone with a twist of fate.
To start, check your local paper and contact local agencies to discover if there are any volunteering positions open and about the requirements. Good luck to you, and let me know how it all goes.
Some places to think about:
- Local hospital
- Animal shelter/humane society
- Goodwill/salvation army
- Library
- Food bank
- Homeless shelters/kitchen
- Schools
- Red cross
Disclaimer: This site and its services are for informational purposes only and are not a substitute for professional advice, examination, diagnosis or treatment. See full disclaimer.
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