Sustainability Challenges - February
Volunteer 5 hours
Why should you voluneteer? Susan J. Ellis of Energize, Inc. said it best:
People volunteer for a wide variety of reasons,
especially wanting to help others. But it's also OK to want some benefits
for yourself from volunteering.
Some people are uncomfortable with the notion that a volunteer "benefits"
from doing volunteer. There is a long tradition of seeing volunteering as
a form of charity, based on altruism and selflessness. The best
volunteering does involve the desire to serve others, but this does not
exclude other motivations, as well.
Instead of considering volunteering as something you do for people who are
not as fortunate yourself, begin to think of it as an exchange.
Consider that most people find themselves in need at some point in their
lives. So today you may be the person with the ability to help, but
tomorrow you may be the recipient of someone else's volunteer effort. Even
now you might be on both sides of the service cycle: maybe you are a tutor
for someone who can't read, while last month the volunteer ambulance corps
rushed you to the emergency room. Volunteering also includes "self-help."
So if you are active in your neighborhood crime watch, your home is protected while you protect your neighbors' homes, too. Adding your effort to the work of others makes everyone's lives better. (Copyright Energize, Inc., used by permission. )
Opportunities are available in your area!
