Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote, “It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life, that no man sincerely try to help another without helping himself.” This quote describes not only the difference a volunteer makes in somebody else’s life or in their community, but also the difference volunteering makes in their own lives. Volunteering takes place on many different levels and in many different ways. Each time somebody volunteers, they give a part of themselves to improve the quality of life for those around them and ultimately society itself.
There are many ways that people volunteer in communities. Some people take many hours of classes and training, dedicating themselves to the communities indicating call day and night. These people are the ones who show up when a child has stopped breathing, a father is having a heart attack, or a grandmother has fallen down the steps. These people are the ones who rush into flames to rescue a daughter, hiding under the bed, who is trapped in a smoldering house. These people are the ones who use the “jaws of life” to save a young couple trapped and pinned in a wrecked car. We ca
Other ways people volunteer are by running food drives, working in soup kitchens and shelters, building houses for Habitat for Humanity, assisting handicapped people., and donating their services and talents to name a few. Volunteers are everywhere in the community, but there is always a need for more. There is always something that can be done to make somebody in need’s life or society in general better. Whether it is picking up garbage along a highway or becoming a teacher’s aide, event the slightest bit of help can make a difference.