I recently finished working with a nonprofit organization as a volunteer. The organization recruits volunteers who are either retired or in their senior years. These older volunteers provide service to the communities in which they live.
When I was part of the organization I saw the firsthand effects of volunteer work. Some of the volunteers in the nonprofit agency helped in juvenile detention centers and hospitals. Other volunteers offered volunteer services in city libraries and government facilities. The work they provided greatly impacted the community where I live.
I remember talking with the director of the organization one time and she told me a neat volunteer story. The director proceeded to tell me about a 70-year-old lady who worked with juveniles in a detention center. This lady worked with kids who were liars and thieves. These kids in the center had no social skills. They couldn't read well and didn't have much education. It was this lady's job to teach social skills the kids could use. She also taught them to read and write well. The director said the lady demanded respect from the first time she went to the detention center—and got it! The director told me the kids in the center absolutely loved this 70-year-old woman. They looked forward to when she came each week to teach them. The volunteer work this lady provided was extremely helpful to the kids. She has prepared them for jobs and awesome possibilities, pointing out their potential. She didn't want the kids to end up on the street or in the state penitentiary at some point. She knew she could make a difference in their lives—and she did. Most of the kids have graduated high school and are working now because of this older lady's volunteer efforts.
Volunteer opportunities are all around. There are various nonprofit organizations looking for volunteers to staff many positions. You could be the means to making a difference in someone's life. If you are unsure where to start, look in the yellow pages and find some nonprofit agency listings. You may already know of some agencies that are in need of volunteer work. You can also do a search on the Internet. You can limit the search to volunteer work opportunities in your area. It is your privilege to give of your time to help build a better, stronger community where you live and help build your character and stamina.
Studies have been conducted about the life expectancy of volunteers. Those who volunteer tend to live an extra 6-8 years longer than those who don't volunteer. There is something stimulating in volunteer work that helps the body stay healthier for a longer period of time.
Volunteers receive no reward except the reward they make for themselves. I felt wonderful when I was a volunteer. It was nice to help people around me. I felt like I was contributing something to the community. I felt like I was making the community stronger.
The nice thing about volunteering is it can happen when you want it to happen. Volunteer work is not a one-time thing. Opportunities are all around you everyday to be a volunteer. You just need to get the ball moving. Once you start, it becomes addictive and leaving the volunteer work force is hard to do, especially when you see how much it contributes to those in need.
By John Ivie