Why (not) volunteer?
The summer means there are myriad opportunities to volunteer for dozens of causes. Festivals, tournaments, anything-a-thons all need willing, cheerful and committed people to help make the event a success without costing a lot of money to organize, money that should be going to the cause itself. Without further convincing, here’s why you should volunteer:
You can support a cause you feel passionately about but may not be able to donate money to in proportion to this passion
Some choose a cause because it is close to home: a family member or a dear friend has been impacted as a result of a disease, they have a fondness for children, animals, the environment or a particular country. Whatever the reason for your interest in a cause, find out if there is a related organization that seems to be doing something about the problem and offer your time as a gift that money cannot replace.
It’s a great way to meet new people
The best part about the people you meet volunteering is you know that you have something in common. And since you meet them through volunteering the chances are high that they are caring, or willing to give time to something they think is important, which is not a bad basis to begin a friendship on.
You feel good knowing that you’re helping
There is great satisfaction in doing something for someone (or a cause) and knowing that your work will benefit individuals, whether directly or indirectly. If you don’t get a feeling of satisfaction from the work, you may not have found the right volunteer gig.
You get to have fun
Not all volunteer jobs are riveting–most people have a dozen things they’d rather do than be part of a cleanup crew following a large outdoor concert– but hopefully knowing that your job is just as important to the whole volunteer event as the more ‘glamourous’ jobs means that you’ll do your best to have fun while volunteering. Be silly, smile a lot, and treat the chore like it’s the best thing around and the only thing you want to do and you will have fun.
You get free stuff
Well established organizations that host large events are very well aware that the way to retain volunteers for annual events is to provide them with perks because, sadly, the fact that there is no financial benefit to the volunteer often means that there can be a high turnover/absenteeism rate among volunteers if the feeling of satisfaction of doing good is not enough for them, because let’s be honest: not all volunteers do it for the cause alone.
Most events want volunteers to wear something that identifies them as such, be it a pin, a cap or a t-shirt, which is provided by the organization free of charge. Other events give volunteers a deep discount or free admission to the event. You may also get the opportunity to receive free training for a required skill that you do not yet have, like I will.
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I fully recommend that you volunteer. Volunteering opens you up to new experiences, gives you the opportunity to learn more about a cause that perhaps you were not so knowledgeable about, and it is a good way to spend your free time. And who knows: your new best friend, a business partner or a lover might be waiting for you!
volunteer, volunteerism, reasons to volunteer
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May 29th, 2007 at 4:33 pm
Sweet, you mean if I volunteer, I can meet chicks that have way too much time on their hands just like me? Sweet.
Heh heh heh, j/k.
I volunteer, it’s a rewarding experience… sometimes, and others, it’s a pain in the butt. So, you have to take the sweet with the sour.