To Be or Not to Be a Volunteer

As almost every week I'm doing my overnight shift (15h) as a volunteer and it seems like I have few minutes of free time so I decided to write about volunteering. What does it mean to be a volunteer? I don't know about you but for me it means:

• being able to provide help and support to those in need
• knowing that you are doing something good - even if that 'something good' is very small for you, might be a big help for someone in need
• better organizing my life (time management) - better planning my weekly/monthly schedule. How to organize my life so not only I can do my work (so something for me) but also how to add to my schedule other activities (e.g.: volunteering work).
• understanding that I'm part of something bigger - part of the community I live in.
• 'paying forward'. Sharing something useful is...good :)
• I'm changing something - I'm changing something by providing support

'Paying Forward' - according to wiseGEEK means:

Paying it forward is a third-party beneficiary concept that involves doing something good for someone in response to a good deed done on your behalf or a gift you received. When you pay it forward, however, you don't repay the person who did something nice for you. Instead, you do something nice for someone else. For example, if someone changes your tire while you are stranded on the highway, you might shovel your elderly neighbor's walkway after a snow has fallen.

What do you do to help your community? What do you think about helping others? Are you a volunteer?

If you want to become a volunteer check your local city hall for some information. Visit VolunteerMatch where you can find a cause you are passionate about and get in touch with non-profit organizations. You might want to check Volunteering and Civic Life in America