Giving does not have to involve volunteering your time, but that may be one way that you can give back to the community. Volunteering is a more structured, formal means by which to offer your services, talents, and energy.

When you volunteer as your method of giving, you will be asked to donate a certain amount of time each week or month. You should treat this service as you would treat a formal job. If you volunteer to serve in a certain capacity and you are unable to physically be at the place of service, it is not like a place of employment where the “boss” may find someone to fill in. In volunteering, if you are not there, it is likely that the service will not be done.

Are you wondering if volunteers are really needed or if you can help at all? Consider this: Every night in America, 750,000 people sleep on the streets; 11.6 million children wake up in poverty; a child is arrested for a violent crime ever five minutes; suicide is the ninth leading cause of death in America; the number of hate crimes increase every year; worldwide, 40 million people are living with AIDS; 19,000 children die daily from malnutrition; and a quarter of the world's population lives on $1.08 a day.

When thinking about volunteering, consider why you are doing it, what others are gaining from it, what you are gaining from it, how much you enjoy the volunteer work, and how well you think you can perform the tasks at hand.

Why People Volunteer

People volunteer for a variety of reasons — some altruistic, some not. Some people actually see volunteering as their civic duty, while others do it to gain job experience or to network for future employment.

Volunteering does not have to be completely one-sided. You do not, and should not, volunteer to do something for which you have no interest, no aptitude, no desire, and no passion. Volunteering, while rewarding and stimulating, can also be trying, frustrating, and full of political hurdles, not to mention grueling work.

However, volunteering can also be filled with rewards beyond imagination. It can be more rewarding than any job or career track on which you have ever embarked. Some of the most common reasons that people volunteer include:

• They are asked to do so by a friend or colleague.

• They believe (and know) that their efforts make a difference.

• It is their way to fight against a social ill such as abuse or poverty.

• They see it as a part of the political process.

• They see it as an outlet for expressing their compassion and successes.

• They have a genuine need and deep desire to help others.

• They understand that they can help change a human life.

• They see volunteering as fun and enjoyable.

• It builds character and healthy self-esteem.

Why People Do Not Volunteer

Just as there are countless reasons for why people volunteer, there are just as many reasons for why people would rather not volunteer. Some feel that volunteering doesn't really help at all. Others see that some organizations have abused their public image for the personal gain of board members and leaders, and they are skeptical.

Volunteering is something about which you have to feel good. If you are made to feel guilty or made to volunteer out of pressure, this is not volunteering for the right reasons (and isn't likely to help your self-esteem one bit, either).

Some additional reasons that people do not volunteer include:

• They can't find the time or it is too time-consuming.

• They don't see the benefits or any positive outcomes.

• They are jaded by past scandals and abuses of power.

• They don't think there is a place for them.

• They tried it at one place and it did not go well, and they won't try it again.

• They believe that the people being served should be doing more to help themselves.

• They are apathetic.

Giving through volunteering is the work of your heart. It is work on which you cannot put a price tag. It is work that can help you realize a dream, network, improve your self-esteem, share your talents, and make a difference through your positive attitude. Volunteering, however, must be right for you.