A common complaint one hears everywhere is,“I don’t have time to…”,or, conversely, “I have so much going on right now”. Without denying that everyone’s lives are busy, it is vital to our communities that we volunteer our time because there are always struggling people who need services.

If you have children or grandchildren, find an organization such as a Food Bank or a church where they can participate. It will be an eye-opening experience for them where they will gain an appreciation for and understanding of their community. Whether the time devoted is great or small, it will be rewarding for everyone involved. Volunteering in an area that is different from your occupation can open doors to new learning experiences and new people that will enrich your life. We truly learn about our community and its’ needs when we get involved rather than read about it in the news. In this way, we become an active part of the community and can make a difference. Although you are not getting paid, there is an assigned dollar value to your time. According to The Business Times in 2012, “one estimated dollar value of volunteer time is $21.36 per hour. According to one estimate from the Corporation for National and Community Service, about 63.4 million Americans — nearly 27 percent of the adult population — contribute a collective 8.1 billion hours of volunteer service worth $169 billion a year.” That’s a lot of volunteer hours! This is terrific, yet more involvement is needed.

Search locally online, in newspapers, churches, community centers, local schools and organizations to find what interests you and there will be an opportunity.

The rewards are many:

Knowing that you are contributing to your community
Acquiring new skills
Enriching your life and the lives of others
Making new friends and social connections
Setting a great example for your children and grandchildren
Connecting with your community

As a child, I observed my parents and relatives volunteering and gradually came to participate in these church and community activities. I am sure I had my share of grumbling when asked to volunteer, however, my father and I used to talk about the fact that we remember all those experiences and that they became a part of the fabric of our life and helped us to consider others before ourselves.

Gratefully,