Volunteering in 2011
It is so difficult for me to think about the fact that this year is going to be over in just a couple of days. I feel like 2011 was such a blur. There were so many organizations that I helped this year, but there were many more that I had wanted to reach out to and did not get the opportunity. For next year though I have decided to up my volunteer hours each week so I can be certain that all of the organizations that need my help will have it in some form or another.
A Time To Give
The holidays are here again, and as always we make lists of gifts to purchase and people we want to give to. It is true what they say, giving really is better than receiving. Seeing the excitement and joy that others have when you give them a gift is priceless, and I don’t know about you but it makes me want to give more and more. Aside from gifts, I like to also give to charities and organizations that cannot survive without donations and volunteer efforts. When the holidays arrive, that might mean that these organizations need even more support from people like me and you.
Easy Ways To Make A Difference
Even with all of the social networking and communications in this day and age, one question that I get asked very often is how people can get involved in helping others and make a difference in lives. While I am so glad that there are many who are willing to take the time to do what is right and give back, but it is still hard to believe that some are not sure how they can help out. If you are someone who is ready to volunteer and give back but are not sure where to begin, take a look at some easy ways you can make a difference.
More Than Puppy Love
I recently found myself in a gap between careers, with an old job ending sooner than expected and no way to start with the new one any before 2 months. As someone who used accustomed to an extremely hectic work and life schedule, I knew that simply staying at home and using the time for relaxation as my friends suggested would not be an option. After about 2 days I was anxious to find something, anything, to occupy my time that didn’t involve staring at a computer screen for the entire day. My I remembered that when my daughter was younger, I had accompanied her class on a trip to the local animal shelter to see how they take care of the animals and what they could do to help them find homes. I figured this would be a great opportunity for me to do something that was out of my comfort zone since I love animals but had never really gotten to experience the less fortunate side of animal care and rescue.
The Portrait of A Volunteer
If you’ve never really seen yourself as a volunteer, think again. The average volunteer may not look like, or be, who you thought he/she was. The Pepsi Refresh Project, put together a great infographic which was featured on Good.is.
Quotes About Volunteering
“It is one of the beautiful compensations of this life that noone can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.”
–Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Destiny is not necessarily what we get out of life, but rather, what we give.”
–Cary Grant
“The best way to find yourself, is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
–Ghandi
