Volunteering is more than just donating money or clicking on a website (although these can be good). It is giving your time, energy, and maybe other resources to a worthy cause. Some people set aside a few hours each month while others dedicate a few years of their life to volunteerism, but either way it forces you to look outside your own life and to connect with others.

Many organizations rely on their volunteers to help them function economically. Organizations such as soup kitchens and zoos have to run on a limited budget where every little bit helps. If volunteers can give their time to help get things done, they can save these organizations a lot of money that would otherwise go to covering the cost of multiple full-time paid positions.

If you want to get started in being a volunteer, think about what causes are most important to you. Do you like meeting new people? Then consider volunteering at a retirement home where you can chat with senior citizens or at a migrant camp where you can play with the kids. Do you love animals? Then an animal shelter or zoo might be waiting for you, where they have lots of programs that allow you to interact with animals and learn more about them.

Volunteering also gives you an opportunity to grow your skill set. You can take on a leadership position or learn a new skill, and you'll be helping out a worthy cause at the same time. Volunteer organizations need people who can help set up and run their website. They need shift leaders who can delegate roles to other volunteers, and they need people who can help train newcomers. Being a volunteer can expose you to new experiences, plus you can boost your attractiveness to employers because it shows you're a driven, well-rounded individual.

If you feel a calling to travel and volunteer, programs like the Peace Corps and the Jesuit Volunteer Corps have wonderful programs you can look into. This way you can experience new places, and maybe new cultures, while doing good. You actually live in the community where your volunteerism project is located.

No matter how few or how many hours you give, volunteering helps foster a mindframe of generosity in a world that so desperately needs it. Give it a try once in a while, or make it a regular hobby. Either way, you're sure to make yourself and your surroundings better.

Learn more about this author, M. Sparga.
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