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What should you do if you have second thoughts about the suitability of the charitable organization after you have made a contribution? Ideally speaking, one should assess the seriousness and commitment of the charitable organization before contributing money or time. However, this does not mean you should simply let things go.

You may be requested to contribute money or your time at a later date. Or, you may be asked to provide references who may be interested in giving money. In such a scenario, not having answers to all your doubts and queries may prove to be a big mistake.

For starters, have a word with the charitable organization and explain your doubts in the nicest manner possible. Something may have given you an impression that the organization is not serious. Having a word with the management is the best way of getting the official position. If your core doubts and queries are not answered, you can then resort to other ways and means to find more information.

You can log on to the internet and check out whether the charitable organization has a website. You can find out whether other individuals have contributed to this site in the past. If you find that other individuals too have the same doubts as you have, it is a clear indication that something is not right with the organization.

Once confirmed, insist on satisfactory answer to queries before any further contributions. A firm and clearheaded approach is more than enough to get to the truth of the matter. This will help you ensure that your contributions are made to the right organization at a later date.

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Would you love to volunteer for a charitable cause? Nine out of ten persons would answer in affirmative but will come up with excuses or reasons why they cannot commit time immediately. Well, you will never have time to volunteer for a noble cause. Let us face it, we all like to live life to the fullest and rarely, if ever, have free time in our hands. If you are going to wait until you have free time in your hands to charity, you will have to wait forever.

People counter this by pointing out that it is not fair for those who are needy for an individual to commit time but not to fulfill the commitment at a later date. Definitely. To promise something and to back out at the last moment is not the hallmark of a decent individual.

When the promise has been made to help certain needy persons, it becomes even more important to fulfill the same properly. However, what is the point of hiding from commitment simply because you feel you may not be in a position to fulfill it?

After all, how difficult can it be to take one hour to take out of your busy schedule in a week? Many persons point out that they may be in a position to take out an hour immediately but may not be in a position to do so next week.

Why always think of the future when it comes to committing to a charitable cause? The fact that you can give one hour of your precious time today is what matters. Who knows whether tomorrow may exist or not?

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Many persons like the idea of doing charity but are not keen on getting their hands dirty. In the long run, you would be in a position to do good for maximum number of individuals only if you are prepared to contribute much more than money. However, this does not mean that you should stop at money alone. There are many ways to volunteer for charity without actually dealing with the poor and needy people who make you so guilty.

Why don’t you offer to design the website of a charitable organization? You can work from your home and can put in your best skills and efforts to set up their website. The website will help the charitable organization establish its online presence. It may even succeed in receiving donations through the internet.

Do not bill them for your work done and let that be your charitable contribution. Setting up a website is like doing labor to set up a shelter home for the poor and needy people. It will be an asset that will help them for a very long time. As long as the charitable organizations can pay for the hosting charges, it will have an online presence and will be accessible to web surfers from all over the world.

Once you start thinking on these lines, you will realize that your hesitation in volunteering is because you do not want to do charity. Many persons don’t like to think themselves as uncharitable. However, the truth is that the most of us are very selfish and greedy. How else would we explain the condition of poor people all over the world today?

 

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To support their goals, local chapters of Habitat for Humanity accept donations of building materials, supplies and tools that will be used to produce or refurbish new homes for the people they serve. Because of the quantities needed and the logistics of getting materials to the work sites, Habitat accepts tools and materials from corporations who can donate and deliver large quantities at once. In addition to construction materials, items like hand and power tools, paint, work gloves and eye protection are always appreciated.

Leftover or unneeded items from small home remodeling projects can still be donated to support the cause. Habitat for Humanity operates many resale stores that sell donated items and reinvest the proceeds into their mission. This is a way to donate single items to a good cause. Wrong-sized windows, extra rolls of wallpaper and leftover drywall can usually be used by someone, and donating them keeps them out of landfills.

Habitat for Humanity projects typically involve lots of volunteers, so restaurants often provide lunches and other refreshments to the job site. This is a great way to become involved in community projects, and also to generate publicity for a local restaurant. It’s also a fantastic way to show support for the project, even if the donor is not in the home-building business.

 

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With a charity, job seekers can often have the opportunity to transfer from a volunteer position to a paid position. Unlike internships in the corporate world, volunteer positions are not as competitive or difficult to obtain. Volunteering can put you in the right place at the right time, and you can have the advantage of a foot in the door that outsiders don’t have. It also allows you to develop professional contacts and networking opportunities for paid positions.

With some larger or national charities, there is the opportunity to start at a local branch, even as a volunteer, and obtain a paid position at a regional or national office. If your career goals include working at a large corporation or Fortune 500 company, experience at a national headquarters, even of a charitable agency, can be very impressive.

The experience you gain from working at a not-for-profit agency can result in transferable skills which can help you in the business world. Because local charities tend to be small, it’s an ideal way to gain experience in many facets of operation, including database management, marketing, supervision and project administration. Experience with a charity can also get you invitations to join Boards of Directors or provide consultation to charitable start-ups. In some cases, student loan repayment programs are available to those who commit to working for certain non-profit agencies for a fixed number of years.

 

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Because of the demand for the service they provide, soup kitchens, food pantries and other agencies that provide food to the disadvantaged are faced with a constant struggle. These facilities are generally operated by not-for-profit agencies such as churches, homeless shelters or other charitable organizations. As a result, they usually have shoestring budgets and rely on donations from corporations and the general public. Soup kitchens and food pantries always need donations of food, particularly institutional-sized cans of vegetables. Canned goods don’t require refrigeration, and are easy to prepare. Canned fruits, applesauce, vegetables and high-protein foods such as peanut butter are the most asked-for items.

Because soup kitchens can serve hundreds of people per day, large cans or cases of food products are the easiest and most convenient way for them to plan menus. In addition to food, these facilities also need cleaning supplies and food preparation items. Donors often overlook the items that are necessary for running a large-scale food preparation operation such as dishwashing detergent, paper towels, plastic wrap, latex gloves, hairnets and take-out containers.

Remember that soup kitchens rarely have a paid, full-time staff. Sometimes the best way to help is to become a volunteer and help the hungry by donating your time, service and compassion.

Here are four of the best marketing strategies for this type of event:

• Partnering with local businesses for promotional and financial support

• Using the Internet and social media platforms to spread the word
• Requesting free space in newspapers
• Engaging in a bulk mail campaign that targets people who live in the community where the event will take place

Don’t Overlook Mail!

Mailing out postcards can be a great way to notify the public about the charity and the event for that charity. A postcard can provide details about the purpose of the event, the cost to attend, as well as the time, date, and place. By sending out information through the mail, you will reach more people in a wider area, making it possible to have a successful fundraiser. The best part is that sending a postcard is more cost effective than sending a longer letter; you can communicate the same information for less money. Remember that bulk mailing usually comes with a discount. You can also use the postcard to tell your attendees that charitable contributions are tax deductible, a fact that can help motivate the public to attend your event.

Some of the types of charities and non-profit organizations that can benefit from these four strategies include churches, homeless shelters, and animal rescue operations.

Conditions and Care

The desire to donate is a worthy one. That worthiness shatters, however, when you offer pieces that are burdened by stains, rips and gaping button holes. All items — from Coogi clothing to those kitten heels you used to favor in the office — must be wearable. They should be cleaned thoroughly and mended of any tears. This is not a law of charity but it is one of decency.

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It’s an all too easy impulse: stuffing clothes into garbage bags, shoving them into the already hastily filled confines of your car. There can be no harm in this, you’re certain. Wrinkles are no great sin. They are, however, a great frustration. Donations should be brought to centers with care. All pieces should be folded neatly into baskets or boxes (consider offering these as well, if they serve no purpose within your home). They should also be labeled, allowing employees to sort them quickly.

Drop-off Demands

The span of a clothing bin seems endless, tempts you to toss all of your items inside — including ones that aren’t made of fabric. When dropping donations at a charity site you must be certain to obey the rules. Garments aren’t to mingle with glass; accessories aren’t to be flung in with furnishings. Keep all items divided instead.

Remember these guidelines before making any donation. They will save all charities time, effort and aggravation.

In the pursuit of a career in the non-profit sector, individuals should first consider obtaining an educational background that can assist in the growth of the particular organization in which they seek employment. As with most careers, a relevant degree is a big plus to your chances of getting hired. Resources for learning how to earn a degree online are the most convenient and viable options in obtaining a degree for your potential non-profit career.

When the time comes to begin seeking employment in the non-profit sector, there are many options to choose from that are both rewarding and long lasting. Among some of the most widely known types of organizations that are commonly associated with the non-profit category include food banks, charities, hospitals, and many more programs and facilities that cater to specific needs. Non-profit jobs tend to provide employees with a sense of well-being and motivation that is not always found in many other career choices. Due to this fact, this highly-sought-after field is a viable choice for anyone looking for fulfillment in their career.

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Whether you’re new to a church or have been a member for some time, it is important to get involved. Most churches advocate a giving spirit, one that looks to help others, and it is a great idea to support the community and areas of ministry in your church. Here are some tips to get involved with your church.

You will often find information on church ministries in the bulletin. This is commonly found in the hand out when you attend church services, or it is likely posted somewhere. Alternatively, if your church has a website, you can look there for information on ministries that interest you.

A great way to get involved is to speak directly to church leadership. This can establish your interest in church ministries and express areas of interest. If you find that a common ministry is missing, you could speak to him or her about starting a church ministry.

Don’t be afraid to get involved in more than one ministry, as well. This will mostly likely be encourage, in order for you to spread your abilities to other areas of the church. Perhaps, for instance, you might enjoy an age/sex-based ministry, but also want to be in outreach or with children.

Getting involved in your church is very easy. It’s a great way to meet people in your church and connect spiritually. You can also play a large role in improving the lives of others, both inside and outside of the church. Don’t hesitate to consider getting involved in your church.

The scripture is taught in detailed to the gathering. Father in the church teaches about the teachings of Jesus Christ and about his holy life. Love the neighbor as themself is one of the teachings of Jesus Christ. All the people are taught about the forgiveness of sins and how Jesus Christ died for others sins.

Once in a month all the members of the church take part in the Holy Communion. Holy Communion means all the members of the church who are baptized will be given bread and wine. Bread indicates the body of the Lord Jesus Christ and Wine indicates the blood of Lord Jesus Christ. This is to remember that he died two thousand years ago for the sins of the people.  And he rose up on the third day. His resurrection gave great joy to the people, which is celebrated as Easter.

And he is expected to come back to this world again to gather the righteous people to heaven. So till his second coming the church is supposed to take part in the Holy Communion with Holiness in the body, soul and spirit. All the members of the church are supposed to confess their sins before taking part in the Communion. There are different churches the Catholic Church, Protestant church, the Lutheran church and many more churches.

All the churches differ according to the name and administration. But the foundation teaching is same in all the churches.

Private organisations pay more for their employees. Due to attractive package most of the people try to work for private organisations. Packages are negotiated at the private organisations. Private organisations have flexible working hours. Decisions are taken by the Chief Executive Officer of that organisation. Quarrel or queries are solved now and then.  Employment and termination is based on the higher officials’ decision.

Government organisations are said to be one of the safest jobs. Government organisations provide lot of facilities like housing, schools and other facilities. Working hours are not flexible. All the decision is taken by the government and the officials are there to work according to the rules and regulations given by the government. The pay package is strictly designed by the government.  There is no room for negotiation. Employment is done by the government.

Social organisations are there to do social work to the society. These are mostly non profitable organisations. People with broad mind and who like to serve the society work in social organisation. It is a service to the nation.  Not all human beings get such attitude. During disasters the social organisations play a vital role joining hands with the armed forces to rescue people.

Many orphanages and old age homes are run by the social organisations. Rehabilitation centres are even run by social organisations. These organisations are of great help to the society and have been made in order to help the smooth function of all the activities of the institutions.

Man has always wanted to live in a society as it had many advantages and some of the advantages are like food security, general growth and security of property and that of the individuals. He felt it safe to leave his wife and children alone at home with the other women folk while he went to earn the bread for a living.

In a secular society every person has the right to worship the religion he wants to and is free to do anything which does not cause damage to the society. Though there are no particular set of rules but it is unofficially followed. These unofficial rules are not always the same, and differ from place to place and keeps on changing as per the adaptive humans.

Animals too live in groups but never in a society and hence it is said that human is after all a social animal. This is because though animals live groups they are not divided into sub divisions and they have the habit of staying with their sub groups.  But humans, though they live together, they have a special bonding towards the people of their community. For example a Christian family will be friends with all types of people in the society but will always have a special bonding towards a Christian family. This type of special affection to the people of the same group can be seen only in human beings. Hence society is always good for the people.

Ultimately, there comes a point of time in his life where he thinks of how much the society has given to him, so he tries to give some amount of the money he has earned and this type of giving is commonly known as donation.

Though donation cannot necessarily mean giving of money, it can also be an offering of materials, vehicles, immovable property and many such donations. Donations are most of the time volunteer and it is given out of their own will. There are some instances when a certain group of people are forced o give donations for doing of favours.

Nowadays we see so many educational institutions asking for such huge sums of money as donation and in an indirect way it is compulsory. So the meaning of the term ‘Donation’ changed and is being misused by many.

When speaking of donations, they can be of different types and can be done in a different number of ways like churches, temples, mosques, charities, social work organisations, social service groups and the governments as an emergency relief fund. Hence doing a donation is a good deed and should always be done with a right motive, which is helping and not with any subversive motive.

First of all you have to be very careful to keep all the business related receipts. Make it a habit to collect all the receipts with great care. It does not matter whether the purchase is big or small you have to take the receipts. Make sure that the receipts are clear and complete with the name of vendor and proper date. Incomplete receipts can make you confused while paying taxes. All these receipt will help you to calculate the total taxes and how to deduct taxes.

If you have taken loan to run your business then this amount is tax deductible. You should keep all the data regarding your loan and interest which are necessary while going to deduct tax amount. The tax deduction is possible if you pay premium for insurance. Remind that premium for life insurance is not tax deductible. The maintenance charge of the machinery and property from which you earn money can qualify as a business tax deduction. The charge of labors and material that are used to repair or maintain the machinery are also tax deductible.

Everyone should be careful to keep all the receipts properly. Make it a habit to collect each receipts of your purchase. It does not matter if the purchase is big or small you have to take the receipts. Incomplete receipts are not useful at all. When taking the receipts you have to make sure that vendor’s name and date is written on it clearly. At the time of paying taxes these receipts will help you to calculate your tax and how to deduct it.

Though premium for life insurance do not allow for tax deduction in some countries but paying insurance for property and other thing can be tax deductible. Keep all the receipts of premiums so that these can help to reduce tax amount. The cost of labor and materials that are required to maintain machinery or other properties from which you can earn are tax deductible. If you are running your business by taking loan then you can deduct tax. You need to have all the documents regarding loan. People have to calculate some home maintenance cost which can help to minimize the amount of tax.

Family volunteering is an activity that clearly, the entire family can participate in. Not only are you assisting in making life better for the charitable organization or individual people you are helping, but you are coming together and creating a bond that cannot be obtained through other types of activities. You are creating that lasting bond as a member of humanity showing your compassion for others through family volunteer work that can immensely and positively impact your working relationship with everyone involved.

In conjunction with volunteering, another way your family can get involved together is by participating in a program called Kars for Kids. This unique and innovative program provides the opportunity for families to donate an old vehicle in any condition, even if it is not running. By doing so, not only are they helping out the charity, but you can write off the donation come tax season.

In all, there are many viable ways for a family to be brought together through participating in charitable work. Whether you opt to go the route of family volunteer work, or something along the lines of the Kars for Kids program; there is plenty to choose from that can abide by any particular preferences or desires. Not only does it reinforce an internal positivity that cannot be obtained through other activities, but participating in family charitable activities can do wonders for the working relationship of family members, and the entire family in general, bringing them together and making them closer.

Prospective volunteers can expect to wait nine months to a year until they are placed in an assignment. During this window, from the time the application is submitted, volunteers are interviewed over the phone, and undergo a thorough medical and legal background check.

Here are some things to remember when going through the application process

Showcase your volunteer work

The Peace Corps wants to see that you have the spirit of volunteerism. Even if you don’t have much volunteer work at the time you submit your application, volunteer throughout the year. Typically, recruiters will ask you to turn in an updating resume showing the steps you’ve taken to improve your candidacy.

If possible, get teaching experience

A large percentage of volunteers do some type of teaching during their service in the Peace Corps. Experience in this field will give you an edge.

Location, location, location

The Peace Corps places its volunteers based on a number of different factors. Time of year, skill sets, vacancies in the host country, and knowledge of the local language all contribute to where a volunteer will be placed. Let a recruiter know where you’d like to be placed and why (perhaps you’ve been there or volunteered there before), but be open to being sent somewhere else. If you have friends or relatives in a country, the Peace Corps will not send you there. They want to make sure volunteers’s focus is totally on serving their host country’s needs.

Language skills

Skills in Spanish and French are most in demand. The Peace Corps operates in several French and Spanish speaking countries worldwide. Knowledge of Swahili, Russian, Mandarin, or Portuguese will narrow your country choices, but will give you a leg up as a candidate. Formal training or native fluency in the languages is usually necessary for Spanish-speaking countries.

Educational background

If you have a masters degree you’re almost guaranteed a spot in the Peace Corps. Demand for university-level teachers (requiring post-graduate degrees) is high. An undergraduate degree is expected of most candidates, though someone with only a high school diploma with considerable volunteer or specialized experience will be considered.

References

Make sure you get great references. Former volunteer supervisors will count the most. Typically applicants choose college professors or high school teachers to writer their references. The Peace Corps also accepts one reference from a close friend.

Medical/legal background

Don’t worry if you have a health condition – this doesn’t automatically disqualify your application, it only restricts the countries where you can serve. Some health conditions however do disqualify applicants such as being HIV positive. Check with a recruiter before completing your application. If you have any marks on your legal record – misdemeanors, etc – this will impact the Peace Corps’ decision to invite you to serve. To save yourself time, explain your situation to a recruiter and ask their opinion on how your legal background may affect your candidacy.

Bigger

There are several reasons why numbers have dwindled in the past few decades. The long and extremely competitive application process prevents meeting volunteer demand quickly. Also,

More Peace Corps wants to increase the number of volunteers by lowering some of the restrictions on service. For example, since 1961 volunteers have been required to serve two years consecutively. More Peace Corps advocates shorter volunteer terms to encourage people to join. More Peace Corps also calls for the U.S. Government to increase the Peace Corps budget.

Better

One of the Peace Corp’s little-known offshoots is Peace Corps Response, a crisis-response team comprised of former volunteers who serve as need dictates. More Peace Corps wants to open this program to first-time volunteers and increase its funding. Other improvements include a stronger training program.

Bolder

More Peace Corps encourages the general public to help them in their mission to better the Peace Corps. Writing letters to your representative or holding fundraisers are just two ways in which you can get involved. There are state chapters for those looking to volunteer their time telemarketing, distributing flyers, or fundraising.

USA Fitness Corps

Targeting low-income neighborhoods where school wellness and exercise programs are typically under-developed and fast food is often the meal of choice for its convenience and affordability, USA Fitness Corps pairs military veterans with out-of-shape kids. Military veterans returning from service often have difficulty finding work, so USA Fitness Corps gives them a way to help out their community and get paid. With all of their hard discipline and dedication to staying active and fit, veterans make the perfect mentors for kids in desperate need of a role model. To donate visit their website: usafitnesscorps.org.

Alliance for a Healthier Generation

Aiming to reduce the number of obese kids by 2015, Alliance for a Healthier Generation targets all areas where obesity can be promoted or neglected – home, school, communities, and medical facilities. The organization challenges parents, doctors, teachers, and community members to take responsibility for children’s diets and well-being. To read more about their projects check out: www.healthiergeneration.org

City Year

City Year places “Corps Members” in positions for ten months in youth leadership programs. This program gives volunteers the ability to get to know a new city through its youth programs while making a difference. Cities to choose from include: Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, Little Rock, Los Angeles, Miami, Milwaukee, New York, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Jose, Seattle, and Washington D.C.

National Civilian Community Corps

A division of Americorps, the NCCC offers work areas that range from education to cleaning up the environment for volunteers aged 18-24. A commitment of ten months is required and work is split up into 6-8 week assignments. Room and board, a small stipend for living expenses and some student loan forgiveness are among the benefits of joining the NCCC.

1. Join a community service club
   Community service clubs are common at many high schools around the country, and they offer students an opportunity to make friends and learn leadership skills while helping others.  Not to mention, being heavily involved in community service looks great on a college application!
2. Organize or participate in a sport tournament
   High school students are in the unique position where they have frequent access to gyms and athletic fields, as well as athletic equipment.  This makes it easy to organize sporting events or tournaments to raise money for various charities; additionally, it’s easy to get school athletes to participate and generate hype for the events.
3. Hold penny wars
   Penny wars are a great way for different student groups to compete to raise money and awareness for their charity of choice.  Each group has a large labeled jar that is placed in a common ground on campus (usually in the cafeteria, library, or main office).  Then, the whole school donates either coins to their favorite charity.  Each cent from a coin that lands in a charity’s jar counts as one point for that charity, while each bill in the jar subtracts points from that charity.  The organization with the most points at the end of the penny wars wins all of the money that was collected, although often times, the second and third place organizations are offered a percentage of the money raised.  This event is a great way to demonstrate how every penny helps!

If you’re in high school and looking for a way to get involved, try out one of these activities to see how much you can give back to the community.

1. Tutoring and mentoring
   Many undergraduates find getting involved in a local tutoring or mentoring organization to be incredibly rewarding.  College students are very close in age to many of the teens that they mentor, which means that they can often be seen as the best role models.  Tutoring is also a great way to review basic concepts and better prepare for coursework at the college level.
2. Peer Health Exchange
   Peer Health Exchange is an organization in which college students visit public high schools that don’t have a health education program.  Here, they spend twelve sessions talking with teens about diet, exercise, nutrition, sexual health, and substance abuse.
3. Campus Kitchens
   This organization recruits a group of students to collect, repackage, and re-cook the leftover food from the dining halls after each meal.  Once prepared and packaged, the food is delivered and donated to local homeless shelters, nursing homes, or soup kitchens.
4. Open mic nights
   College campuses also have a high number of talented performing arts majors, singers, and musicians, all of whom make open mic night events so successful.  Not only can these events raise a large amount of money for charity, but they can also generate publicity and raise awareness about the charity as well.  These are some of the most fun and most lucrative fundraising events on many college campuses.

These four ideas are just a few of the many ways college students can get involved with charities on campus.  For more ideas, check out a student activities fair or visit the school’s website to learn about the different charities other students are supporting.

1. Join a junior board
   Junior boards, sometimes known as associate boards or auxiliary boards, are becoming increasingly common for charities.  While most charities are run by the executive board, which is usually comprised of the founders and highest donors, the junior board is an opportunity for young professionals to have a say in the growth of the organization.  Junior boards often plan fundraising events, coordinate volunteers for various events, and raise awareness about the charity.
2. Run for a reason
   If you’re athletic, consider getting involved in your city’s next 5k, 10k, or half or full marathon to raise money for your favorite charity.  Not only is participating in a run a great way to promote your charity and fundraise, but it’s also an opportunity to meet other philanthropically minded individuals and get in shape.  Many charities make it easy to raise money for them by offering personalized webpages to fundraise online; still, even if a charity doesn’t offer this tool, there are many online fundraising websites runners can use to collect donations.
3. Organize or participate in fundraising parties
   Fundraising parties are also incredibly popular among young professionals; they provide the chance to explore the city’s nightlife, meet others, and have a great time, all in the name of charity.  They’re also quite easy to organize, as many bars and restaurants will be willing to donate venue space, provide appetizers, or offer discounted beverage packages in exchange for publicity.

These are just three simple ways that young professionals can get involved with charitable organizations.  If you’re looking for another way to volunteer, contact local charities to see what they need help with most.

• Publicity
  Use facebook and Twitter to promote your cause with ease!  Your fundraising web page might even appear on search engines.  All this means that more and more people will see your message, learn about the charity you’re supporting, and potentially donate.
• Convenience of collecting donations
  Online fundraising makes wire transfers and credit and debit card charges a breeze.  Furthermore, it allows friends and family who live in different areas of the country to donate with ease.  Not only will this encourage more people to donate, but it will also encourage the build-up of smaller donations.  Many people don’t consider the potential that a few $5 or $10 donations have until they start to fundraise online; a few $5 donations are sometimes better than one $20 or $50 donation because it means that your message is reaching more donors.
• Ability to help another philanthropic organization in the process… The website itself!
  Many websites are either registered non-profits or geared towards helping worthy causes and individuals.  While websites will take a small fee, that fee is usually to cover the cost of credit card charges, web hosting, and other overhead for the company.  By using an online fundraising website, you’ll be able to help the company stay afloat so that others will have the chance to support their causes online as well.

There are a variety of online fundraising websites out there that make it easy for individuals to promote the causes that they care about.  Check out Firstgiving, GiveForward, or Raise It Now for more information about how you can set up an online fundraising page for your favorite charity.

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Charity is about more than the money you can give; it’s also about the things and pieces of yourself you can put into a good cause. Many charities have money, but what they need extends beyond monetary means, and this works to the advantage of many. There are plenty of people out there who are interested in giving to a greater cause but are not in the financial position to donate. However, you can donate more than just your money to a charity.

If there is a charity out there that you are interested in donating to, you should give them a call and ask them what they might be in need of. There are plenty of charities out there that require household items or specialty items that they may not have the budget to purchase. Things like coffeemakers, tools, and clothes are all things that can come in handy but may not be vital to the overall plan.

You should see if there is something that you can do to volunteer your time. Non-profit organizations often have the money that is needed, but they lack the help they need to get things moving in the right direction. You may have some special skills that they might be in need of, if you are going with your hands or if you have medical training. These are just some things to think about.

Of course, you can always donate money and time if you so choose. Money can come in a cash, check, money order, or even as a prepaid credit card. If you want to donate your time, know that there are many places that could use people behind the scenes to do some of the work they need to have done. Giving back can be one of the most fulfilling experiences. Make sure you do it right and enjoy it every step of the way.

1. Personalize your donation requests
   Take the time to personally request donations through phone calls, email messages, or even in-person requests.  These are much more likely to gain support for your event.  Not only is it nearly impossible to say no to a friend’s smiling face, but it’s also a great way for donors to hear your own personal reasons for supporting your charity.  Best of all, you get the chance to give a genuine “thank you” to your donors right after they make a donation!
2. Involve different news organizations
   Contact local news agencies to see if they’re able to run press releases about your event.  This will help make your event public, and it will also be a great way to spread information about the event’s charitable beneficiary.  What’s more, you might even be able to get a newspaper or news website to run articles both before and after your event, doubling the publicity benefits.
3. Enlist the help of corporate sponsors
   Local bars, restaurants, and stores generally love to support charitable causes, because it makes them look good and earn more business.  Try trading advertising at your event with a few donated raffle prizes or gift certificates–or even the venue space itself.  Corporate sponsors allow your charity to build relationships with local businesses, who might be even more willing to make future donations for your cause as a result of your current event’s success.

Using these simple strategies will help boost the funds and publicity of your event, while simultaneously raising awareness about the cause that you’re supporting.  Try them out and see the difference they can make!

• Food, food, and more food!
  Dancers and volunteers need energy to keep dancing the night away.  Supply high-protein snacks like protein bars, peanut butter sandwiches (if there are no allergies), or even iced protein shakes to help cool dancers down.  Be sure to break fully for meals and make the rounds with plenty of snacks several times each hour.
• No caffeine
  Help your volunteers stay healthy by prohibiting caffeine–it can add extra stress to the body and exacerbate dehydration.  Everyone will be tired if they’re dancing for 24 hours, coffee or not, so try to energize everyone with upbeat music and healthy snacks, rather than caffeine.
• Change clothes according to preset themes
  Wearing the same clothes for 24 hours is not only gross, but also boring!  Have your dancers change into crazy costumes or themed outfits every so often to boost their energy.  It’s a great way to keep them motivated, especially if the music changes along with the theme.
• Allow visitors
  Don’t keep your dancers shut in a room all night!  Let their friends and family members jump in and dance for awhile–this raises awareness for the charity, while providing some much needed encouragement for those hardworking volunteers.
• Maintain adequate temperature controls
  The physical stress of dancing makes it harder for volunteers to maintain their body temperature. It seems like a no-brainer, but if there’s an outdoor dance marathon during the middle of summer, be sure to arrange for fans or large coolers of ice.

To see these suggestions working their magic, visit the next dance marathon in your area, or even consider signing up!

• Volunteer physician
  Physicians are in very high demand at many free health clinics, and as a result, volunteer physicians can often set their own schedules.  The flexibility and ability to help the uninsured are some of the benefits that volunteer physicians experience by donating their time.
• Volunteer nurse
  Like doctors, nurses are needed at many organizations; some will even hire full-time nurses, while other simply provide flexible ways to volunteer.
• Triager
  Triagers are the individuals who take patients’ vital signs, like heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature, and record chief complaints.  This position is usually filled by premedical undergraduate students or by those interested in applying to medical school, nursing school, or PA school.
• Lab assistant
  Similar to triagers, lab assistants are often students or people interested in pursuing a career in healthcare.  Lab assistants draw blood, check blood sugar, and run lab tests on blood and urine samples.
• Front desk assistant
  The front desk staff checks patients in, schedules appointments, and files charts.  The vast numbers of patients mean that help with filing and calling to confirm appointments is always appreciated.
• Medical interpreter
  Many uninsured patients do not speak English as their first language; as a result, translators and medical interpreters are often needed to facilitate patient communications..

Consider looking for one of these volunteering positions at a hospital or clinic near you to  explore your interests in healthcare!

Each Kentuckian can show their true colors as they drive around town, revealing the charity that they support.  S&S Retail Director Rick Paynter stated that these tire stem caps could make a significant difference in their community.  Imagine the statement that it would make if everyone had colored tire stem caps representing the charity of their choice. You can get your charity tire stem caps and any of the 13 S&S Tire locations.  Their website www.caps4acause.com has a location finder.

What a creative way to reach out and help raise awareness in the community and money for the local charities. Something as little as a tire stem cap that is hardly thought about could actually make a difference in the lives of those whom these charities touch. Whether you want to ride around with pink, red, yellow or blue tire stem caps is not the most important thing, it is helping others in your community.

Image via Wikipedia

Tribal wars raging in Somalia resulted in the untimely breaking up of the Abobaker/Zain family of four. Through a refugee program, they were able to be reunited once again in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Habitat for Humanity and the Chattanooga’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program made it possible for them to call Chattanooga their home.  With their combined efforts, and the help of many people including local Muslims, the Abobaker/Zain family now has a four bedroom and two baths home.

Abobaker says that it is like a dream and that they do not want to go back home. Their home is only one of the seven that have been constructed in the local area.

The Chattanooga Neighborhood Stabilization Program is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for all residents, through helping to cultivate community partnerships and identifying areas in need of revitalization. Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit Christian organization that believes that the rich need wise and honorable ways to divest them selves of their overabundance, and that the poor do not need Charity, but Capital, and not case workers, but co-workers.  They began their ministry in 1968 in Koinonia where 42 half-acre housing sites were created, with a community park and recreational area. Habitat for Humanity has built over 350,000 houses now, which have provided shelter for over 1.75 million people in over 3000 different communities around the world.

Even though the  Abobaker/Zain families feel overwhelmed by all of the support and help that they have received, they know that they have truly been blessed by both of these programs to be able to be reunited once again as a family, and to have an affordable home of their own. As refugees, this really provides them with the opportunity to start over, to rebuild their lives and to experience the American dream.

Hanging Gates and Clearing Brush

People think of handyman work as repairing decks, fixing faucets and putting up paneling. However, the opportunities can also involve clearing brush from a property, helping to perform controlled burns in wildfire areas and cleaning up public areas such as dog runs. The skill sets are also varied, from plumber to auto mechanic and from carpenter to computer technician.

Finding the Opportunities

Just about all volunteer opportunities are local, although national databases are available on the Internet. Surfing the web for opportunities can be done at most public libraries if the volunteer does not own a computer. For those who like to do things the old way, perusing the Yellow Pages for nonprofit organizations and giving them a call will build a network into the available opportunities. Public librarians can help out if the prospective volunteer gets stuck.

Volunteering to Build Customer Contacts

Handymen are often in business for themselves. Volunteering is an excellent way to make contacts and display skills to people who may want to hire the services later on. Just the act of volunteering raises the estimation of others, and performing high-quality work could very well lead to more business down the road. If nothing else, building a more expansive network of contacts can only help build the business.

Volunteering for the Fun of It

The other side of volunteering is the feeling of having given back to the community. Many people volunteer only to gain this satisfying experience, and handymen are no different. This of course includes handy women as well. Anybody skilled with tools is needed and appreciated in the volunteer world. Gender is hardly ever an issue.

While often overlooked when considering volunteer work, handymen are in high demand for many different tasks and projects.

Three years ago Santa Cruz City Councilman Tony Madrigal approached Pamela, the owner of Classic Cleaners, for help with a prom dress giveaway.  Pamela was one of those girls who dreamed of going to the prom, but could not afford it.  She says that she went to the beach and acted like she was too cool for prom, even though she desperately wanted to go.  Because of her own personal disappointment, she jumped at the chance to bless the lives of other young girls who could have faced a similar situation as she did.

In just the first year, 1,000 dresses were donated to help less fortunate girls across the nation.  That number quickly grew to 1,800.  This year, they are hoping to bring in 2500 dresses so that they can help many more girls, especially with the economy being what it is today, there is more of a need then there was before.

The community has really stepped in.  In the past, they have donated dresses, jewelry, shoes and even make-up.  The unique area that they live in offers many opportunities for even local designers to donate. The local school counselors make sure that all girls in need are aware of the giveaway, but it is open to anyone.

Classic Cleaners cleans all of the dresses that are donated so that they are ready for the lucky girls. In years past, the girls have tried them on and modeled them for each other.  Some of the dresses even came from as far away as Florida.  Pamela points out that those dresses start at $490 retail, and so it is a big day for these girls.  She compares it to getting married or buying your first house.

Feeding, Supporting and Transporting

Meals on Wheels volunteers deliver meals as always and do several other important services. H.O.P.E (Healthy Options Program for the Elderly) delivers an extra bag of groceries once a month to clients who require extra nutritional support. Care Calls involve calling homebound clients to check in on them that everything is all right. This is in lieu of friends and family members who are either unavailable or unable to take action if something is wrong. Volunteers in Handy Wheels go to the client’s house and perform repairs. Medi Wheels drivers give rides to medical appointments. For clients who can prepare their own meals but have a hard time going to the grocery store, Groceries to Go volunteers do their shopping and deliver the groceries twice each month.

Requirements and Rewards

Usually the volunteer needs to own a vehicle appropriate for the service. An amount of sensitivity is required and a friendly, patient personality. For home repair, skills such as carpentry and plumbing are needed, along with general handyman skills such as yard work.

The rewards for helping the elderly and homebound clients go beyond the satisfaction of having helped those in need. The elderly have rich life experiences that, when allowed to do so, they like to share with the younger generations. Friendships can develop that are rich and meaningful, putting perspective into the volunteer’s own life experiences. After all, the elderly have been the volunteer’s age, but the volunteer has yet to reach the age of the client.

Volunteering for Meals on Wheels does not take very much effort, although some skills and usually a vehicle are required. The rewards far outweigh the volunteer’s efforts.

Critical Thinking

Students in the US today take the notion of critical thinking for granted because it has become integral with curriculums across the nation. However, this was not always the case. During the 1960s and 1970s, critical thinking was a radical idea. How dare passive students challenge the authority figures? Wasn’t education simply preparing drones to work in factories? As it turned out, critical thinking became an important step to master in a student’s education, whether encouraged by curriculums or not. The world was changing, and critical thinking became necessary for high-level decision making in a world dominated by Total Quality Management (TQM) and its offshoots, by political hard sell techniques and by issues having to do with environment and sustainability. Translated into Peace Corps volunteering, developing countries need to know about the skills required to make wise decisions based on information, not mindless traditions.

Two-Way Street

Volunteers in the Peace Corps not only teach other people about Americans, but also learn about other people. This is a highly enriching experience through a broad spectrum. Languages, cultures, social structures, political systems and economics are just some of the opportunities to share and learn. Certainly some experiences may not be comfortable, but they are all rich with new knowledge and understanding of the world. This kind of experience cannot be found in classrooms or through most internships available in the US. Peace Corp volunteers nearly always come out wiser for their efforts.

The Peace Corps has evolved along with the world. When considering what volunteer paths to take, this should be among the top choices, especially for new college graduates.

Emma participates in the pathways program for children with special needs. Each week she volunteers for ten hours as a dance assistant at the YMCA and the Madison Community House. She works with children ranging from the ages of three to ten. Helping these children does not feel like work to her, she thoroughly enjoys it.

Emma would also like raise money for the Special Olympics Area 3 Swim Team as her mother has done. Her mother, Rosemary gets people in the community to make handmade scarves, which she then sells them at Bottle Hill day. It is clear that her mother has set a good example for Emma to follow.

Emma feels that volunteering is her calling in life, and has combined that with her love of dance. There are countless children who she has helped get into position, and helped with tap and ballet work. Emma is probably not even aware of the positive influence that she has had in the lives of many for years to come. And her story will inspire many more to be an influence for good just as she is. To have made a difference already, being just a senior in high school, it is clear that she will do so much more.

Volunteering has an impact on those who are serving and also those who are giving that service.  Certainly, Emma will continue to help other youth learn to keep on their toes.

Truly purposeful, life-enhancing uses for cell phones are difficult to imagine. One such breakthrough took place recently in New York City, however. Entrusted with the challenge to ‘do some good,’ a trio of would-be admen (including one woman) working their internship at the New York agency Bartle Bogle Hegarty placed prepaid cell phones at the center of their initiative. The target of their benevolence was the city’s homeless.

The second ingredient which the young interns decided to harness was the social networking tool Twitter. The overall concept revolved around enabling the four selected recipients of the cell phones to put into words their own perceptions of their experiences. The upshot of this has been that the four individuals have enlightened the public about their own struggles and triumphs.

Behind the idea was the sobering fact that, as a group, homeless people are hugely overlooked, or, to use the program’s title, under heard. The Underheard project was born to address this issue, albeit on a small scale. While on one hand the measurable success that the initiative has had is limited – four men each with over 1,000 followers for their tweets – the media attention it has attracted has been hugely positive.

Although volunteer work does not pay, it is still considered work experience and should always be included on your resume. Some companies will even look for this type of work when hiring new employees. Volunteer work experience should be written the same way that a paid job position would be written on your resume. Therefore, when you include volunteer work on your resume, be as specific as possible. Give yourself an appropriate title for the type of work you performed and mention each job responsibility. If you are applying for a specific job, be sure to mention volunteering tasks that relate to the the position you want. Do not hide volunteer work at the bottom of your resume. Instead, include it prominently with your other career experience. Instead of calling this section of your resume of “Employment History” you may want to use a title such as “Professional Experience” or a similar description that includes both paid and unpaid positions.

If you are already employed full time, volunteering on evenings or weekends can be a great way to get a start in a new job field. This is also a great way to try out a new career that you may be unsure about. If you are unemployed and searching for a new position, use volunteer work as a way to keep yourself active in your career field while you search for a new position. It can also help fill any gaps of time between full time jobs.

Support Roles

Hospital volunteers are for the most part given work that supports the health professionals. This can be doing paperwork, filing, moving supplies from one area to another, disposing of medical waste and maintaining computer records. Some hospitals use volunteers for janitorial support, although this is not common. Serving in reception areas is more common, where the volunteer does not have any counseling duties for patients or families of patients. The tasks involved have to do with simple information dissemination and possibly answering the phone.

Patient Contact Roles

If the volunteer desires direct patient contact work in support of a developing career in health care, many hospitals provide special training. This is always true in teaching hospitals for pre-medical students, and other kinds of hospitals also have training programs. Once through training, the volunteer works under direct supervision from a nurse or other health care professional.

Expressing Appreciation

While hospital volunteers tend to be young, older people also volunteer. Sometimes a patient who has been treated at a hospital subsequently volunteers to show appreciation. Retired people also volunteer in support of their communities.

Hospital volunteer work is rewarding in several ways. Young people who may be interested in developing health care careers will gain knowledge of how a hospital runs, at least at a low level. Casual conversations with health care professionals will give an idea on what the different career paths are like. A special sense of doing important work may develop, even if the work is merely carting supplies from one place to another. The important thing is that working in a hospital environment has more opportunities for learning and helping than simply visiting. The volunteer will likely become an appreciated member of the hospital community and could earn the friendship of knowledgeable professionals.

In South Carolina, 1,113 groups have registered to participate, and there are many others across the nation.  The goal this year is to raise $11 million and to have over 275,000 youth participate. The money that these youth raise will be returned to their communities, and they will designated whether they go to soup kitchens, food banks, or other local charity organizations.

The Souper Bowl began in 1990 when a Reverend said a simple prayer just before they sat down to watch the Super Bowl, to bless those who would not have a bowl of soup to eat.  This created a local fundraising project, which brought in just over $5700 that first year. It was after that the 501© organization was formed.  Since then, they have been able to raise $71 Million.  In 2010, they were able to raise $10.2 million.

The Youth will be giving of their service at Harvest Hope, God’s Storehouse and the Oliver Gospel mission.  This is a great example of how our nation’s youth have stepped forward and helped in their communities.

The Souper Bowl has been able to gain endorsements from presidents, NFL owners and national figures. Souper Bowl of Caring states that one out of every four children in America live in an insecure food home. Hunger is not only happening in third world countries, but right here in our own. These youth are helping make Super Bowl weekend meaningful to those who do not have a bowl of soup.

Many Opportunities on the Web

Professionals generally have computers and know how to use them. Surfing the web for volunteer opportunities is a snap. The number of organizations looking for pro bono work is quite large, and just about every profession is covered. Doctors, dentists, lawyers, accountants and even professional entertainers are needed.

Creating Opportunity

One of the characteristics of most professionals is having the ability to create their own opportunities. They also have the knack of joining together to form clinics, partnerships and firms of their own. If a need exists and a professional wants to fill the need, waiting for someone else to take the ball and run is likely not going to happen. Professionals run with their own balls and on their own steam. This is what makes them professionals.

Great Publicity

Professionals need to be recognized in their communities, either from a strictly business sense or from a burning need to exercise leadership. Volunteer work will satisfy the burning need and bolster the business at once. Newspapers and televised news love to cover human interest stories, and doing pro bono work for the community is golden to the media. Politicians may also want to help out to get the positive publicity, either financially or by supporting the cause in word and deed.

Volunteering is in itself a satisfying activity for anyone. However, professionals have capability and often the need to make life on earth better for the disadvantaged and needy. International organizations such as Doctors without Borders and the Red Cross have developed from one or just a few professionals going all pro bono on the world. The professional who volunteers makes a tremendous positive impact.

Image by Official U.S. Navy Imagery via Flickr

When you hear the word ski resort, you may automatically think that that is all there is to do there: ski and ski and ski. In most cases, this cannot be further from the truth.

Many lodges and accommodations for skiers also offer other cold-weather activities. These can include hiking trails that are still passable, are well marked, and are of short enough length that, when regular cold weather precautions are observed, can make for a fun activity. Other places offer access to such things as ice skating rinks. These may be located on the ski resort properties themselves or in a nearby town or city. When this is the case, it may be possible to take advantage of shuttle services.

Other services located on the actual properties themselves can include indoor game rooms, spas, and other amenities. Guests who are staying on the property can have access to these and others. Some may be free, while others may have a small charge.

These same shuttle services, or a short drive by car or public transportation, will also allow you to enjoy shopping in the nearby towns or cities. In addition, you may even be able to hire (which is another way of saying “rent”) ski equipment at a reduced price. It may mean lugging it back to the resort with you, but that shouldn’t be too much of a problem.

You may also be able to enjoy some of the activities mentioned above in the towns surrounding a ski resort. Depending on the business itself, some of these may offer discounts to those guests staying at a particular lodge or property. So, don’t let the fact that not everyone in your family skis. There are still plenty of cold-weather activities — those mentioned above as well as others, such as snow tubing—which can ensure that everyone will enjoy their time there.

Over this last year, this organization has made a difference in the lives of many, not just those who receive the fruits of the labor freely given, but those who are able to give of their time, talents, and even those who are able to donate supplies have been touched. Being able to serve in your own community, sometimes literally in your own neighborhood, gives you the feeling of sweet satisfaction of having made a difference today in someone’s life.

Some of the most impressive renovations included two different homes for the Kuester family.  The Kuester’s lost their daughter Samantha to Swine Flu in October of 2009, followed by a house fire in December, which robbed them of all their belongings, even the hand made Afghans their mother had made for the remaining children for Christmas. Adding insult to injury, the fire had started in the room that Samantha had died in. Living next door, are Samantha’s grandparents.  Her grandfather‘s diabetes had progressed to the point where he was receiving medical care at home, and was now in a wheelchair.  He often would injure his feet as he tried to maneuver his wheelchair through narrow doorways.  In April of 2010, Hearts 2 Homes built the Kuester’s a new home, and widened Samantha’s grandfather’s doorways, and for the first time, in a very long time, his wife and he were able to be in the same bedroom, because now his hospital bed fit in their bedroom.

It is organizations like this one, which revitalize a community one home at a time, giving them hope again one heart at a time.  There is nothing like the satisfaction of helping your neighbor.

Volunteering provides a sense of pride, accomplishment, and satisfaction. When you help someone in need, it makes you feel better as a person. Many volunteers can’t even put into words how good it feels to help others in need. Research has shown that people who volunteer will live a longer, happier, and more fruitful life. Volunteers have a lower rate of depression and are typically very happy people. Volunteering is also a great way to teach teenagers responsibility, gratitude, and a sense of caring for others.

When you volunteer at a halfway house like MichaelsHouse.com, you are helping people with various substance abuse problems. You could see people at their worst and help them reach their best. You will make life-long friends, learn new skills, and feel proud about your ability and willingness to help out the community. When you help other people improve their lives, you are making the world a better place.

If you volunteer at MichaelsHouse.com, or a similar facility, you will get a firsthand look at the effects of addiction. This will undoubtedly make you think twice about abusing substances, or even having a few too many drinks while spending a night out on the town.

You can also learn from those that you are helping. Learn from their mistakes, but also learn from their successes. Do not take the simple things in life for granted, especially your family and friends, the roof over your head, and the clothes on your back. When you do have something extra, especially your time, share it with others and help spread joy to other people’s lives by volunteering.

Servicing Homeowners or Renters

The homeless have always been considered prime users of food banks, but after the economic woes of long-term unemployment, homeowners or renters have also used food banks. This is a tough decision to make for most people who still have housing. Pride has to be abandoned in order to provide food for themselves and their children. While it is easy to feel compassion for the truly homeless, volunteers should keep in mind that people who still have housing also need help. In the not too distant future, these people may actually have to face homelessness too. The question is whether the people who come to food banks could get help elsewhere, such as through food stamps. Food bank volunteers should be able to refer these people to the food stamp program. Preliminary counseling can be done by offering any information materials available from the local food stamp program.

Controlling Inventory

Food banks tend to stock only imperishable items such as dry and canned goods. However, if perishable items do show up, these should be given out first after checking for spoilage and if local laws and regulations permit this. Furthermore, the imperishable items should be rotated by expiration dates because even canned soup is good for only so long.

Hunger is still a problem in our society, regardless of claims to the contrary. Food banks directly help the needy, and volunteering for them supports the mission to keep people fed. This is one of the best volunteer opportunities to be had because of its localized focus.

Tending to the Basic Needs

Volunteering at a homeless shelter can be heartbreaking. People need food, shelter from the elements, help with medical problems and restoration of their self-esteem. The resources available to many homeless shelters never seem to be enough, so the volunteers have to work with very little. On the upside is that these desperate people usually want to get back on their feet. Very few have chosen to be homeless, contrary to what some people want to believe. Most often the initial problem is finding homeless people, since the natural drive is to do things on their own. People do not tend to ask for help, especially those who have been on their own all along but lost their jobs through no fault of their own.

Giving the Homeless a Political Voice

Homeless people can still vote, although this can be difficult due to not having a permanent address. Volunteers at homeless shelters can help by collecting the voting requirements and informing their clients on how they can vote. Another powerful thing that volunteers can help with involves writing letters to city, county, state and federal politicians. Being homeless stings less when people understand that they are not outcasts from society. Giving the homeless a political voice not only raises their self-esteem but informs the government that people are out there suffering because of a bad economy, and no other reason.

Literally everyone can become homeless. Jobs are not guaranteed in a free-market society, and laying off workers is looked at as just a part of doing business. Even people in business for themselves can lose clientele and end up homeless. These people deserve help.

First, studies have shown that volunteering can actually have a positive impact on your health. This includes an improved sense of well-being, lower stress levels and decreased anxiety. Volunteering can help to build self-esteem and self-confidence and it can also help fight depression. Overall, it just feels good to help others. Volunteering can also have benefits in your professional life. It is a great way to gain experience in your career field, learn and develop new job skills and boost your résumé. Volunteering provides social interaction and networking opportunities with other people that may lead to new job opportunities or lifelong friendships. In addition, you will feel needed, valued and appreciated by those you help.

When deciding to volunteer your time and talents, be sure to pick a cause and organization that inspires you and brings you joy. Pick something that matches your personality, interests or hobbies. You can commit to a long term position or choose a one day volunteer opportunity depending on your schedule and availability. Many organizations even have opportunities available that can be completed in your home. If you are a parent, be sure to involve your children and teach them about helping others. Studies show that children who take the time to volunteer when they are young will often continue to give back as adults.

There are a variety of animal organizations that need volunteers. First, animal shelters care for pets such as dogs, cats and rabbits. These shelters need help caring for the animals and finding them permanent homes. Next, zoos, aquariums and wildlife organizations look for volunteers to greet visitors, help with the animals, lead educational programs and help maintain the facilities, among other tasks. In addition, animal welfare organizations look for volunteers to help advocate for the animals, organize fund-raising events and assist with legislative actions. Jobs in this type of organization usually take place in an office environment. Finally, consider becoming a foster home to a dog, cat or other animal. Volunteers are needed to care for these pets until a permanent home can be found.

Keep in mind that these jobs involve more than just cuddling with puppies and kittens. It is common for this type of work to involve physical labor, to be messy and even exhausting. Volunteers may spend their time cleaning cages and pens, hosing down floors, removing waste and feeding animals. In addition, many volunteer opportunities do not involve direct contact with animals. Instead, the organizations may ask for your help in raising money, interviewing perspective adoptive families and presenting educational programs.

At halfway houses, volunteers are afforded the opportunity to meet addicts in recovery. While the point may be for you to help turn around a life, which is indeed the expectation, you will be amazed at the impact it has on you. While you aren’t earning money, you are doing an invaluable service to your soul. You will witness the withdrawal process and see what happens first hand when an addict takes steps toward recovery. You will hear their stories and become familiar with the impacts that controlled substances like alcohol, crystal meth, and heroin have on the human brain. Most of all, you will see firsthand how substance abuse tears apart families. Your experience can ultimately become your own deterrent from addictive behavior.

Volunteering is something many of us ponder and few of us try. Moreover, the wrong choice of a volunteering destination can deter you from considering another opportunity. Do yourself a favor and contact your nearest halfway house. Through your volunteer efforts in helping those who suffer from addiction, you can personally make a difference in someone’s decision to change and live a clean life. You can help them become the good father, mother, sibling, friend, and mentor they hope to be. The service you will do to your soul will last a lifetime. It’s a decision you simply will not regret.

There are many benefits to a volunteer vacation. First, it will allow you to see a new area through the eyes of a local resident. Most vacations will not show a local culture through the unique perspective that you will find with this type of travel. Next, this of vacation will allow you to give back and help others by using your talents and skills in a different setting, which many decribe as a life changing experience. In addition, people who take travel for volunteer work will incur less costs than a traditional vacation. Many aspects of the trip might also be tax-deductible.

Another benefit of a volunteer vacation is the positive impact it will have on your health, including lower stress leves, increased self-esteem and greater self-confidence. Helping others feels good, and those who give back to others will feel valued and appreciated. This type of traveling can help boost your professional resume and provide real world experience. Finally, volunteer vacations offer many opportunities for social interaction, both with other volunteers and local citizens.

Finding a volunteer vacation opportunity is easy. There are a variety of charitable organizations that offer this type of travel program. There are also many online websites that provide lists of volunteer vacations and allow you to search through these options based on your indivudal interests. When deciding to give back, take the time to learn more about these unique volunteer vacation opportunities and make a difference in the lives of others while experiencing new cultures.

What do you want to do for your volunteer work?

Well, it all depends on what you appreciate, and it could literally be anything. If you like the idea of providing houses for the homeless or soon-to-be homeless, join the Habitat for Humanity and get your paintbrush. If you’re all about the March of Dimes, keep in your heart those little babies and walk in their name to help spread the word. It would make this article way too long if listing every other single organization known to man. But the point is this: what do you want to support?

One way you could determine what you’d like to support would be your strengths. If, for instance, it’s roofing, maybe Habitat for Humanity is for you. Would you believe that you can even volunteer for a debt consolidation service? That is if you have experience with accounting and money. Your essential job would be to provide education to those who are in need of it, basically free of charge. Whatever information they need about money management and consolidation, you’d provide, out of the goodness of your heart. There’s no better feeling, that’s for sure. If your strength is in the care of children, visit Big Brothers and Big Sisters with the real intention to be there for any kid who needs your help with anything, even finances.

Whatever your strengths are, use them. Volunteering enriches you, reminds you of your precious humanity. Yes, you need the job that pays. But volunteer work is important. Never forget that.

Healthy individuals are permitted to give blood once every eight weeks. In order to become a blood donor, there are some basic requirements that you must meet. First, you must feel well and should not have a cold or other illness. You must also be at least 17 years of age and weigh at least 110 pounds. You must have a healthy pulse, temperature and blood pressure. If you meet these requirements, you should be able to donate blood. However, some people with certain health conditions may not be able to donate. To view the complete list of regulations for blood donors, visit the website of your local blood bank or an organization such as the Red Cross.

Another way to help is to organize a blood drive. Consider holding one at your office, your place of worship, the local high school or college, a community center or any other place where you can recruit multiple donors to give blood. Most blood banks have the ability to hold a blood drive at a remote location by working out of a large vehicle, such as a bus, or by using other portable equipment. Visit the website of the Red Cross for a complete list of blood banks across the country.

Next, consider helping at a halfway house or drug rehabilitation center, especially if you have personal experience with overcoming drug or alcohol addition. Prisons or shelters for battered women and children offer excellent volunteer opportunities. Many times positions in these facilities offer life changing experiences. Other options include volunteering at a community theater, fraternal organization or civic club.

In addition, there are many volunteer opportunities working with the elderly. Consider donating your time and talents in a retirement home or by delivering food and nourishment to home bound seniors through your local chapter of Meals on Wheels. People who enjoy working with animals can find volunteer opportunities at shelters and veterinary hospitals or by working as foster families for pets.

If you have interest in art, consider the possibilities for volunteering at art galleries, photography studios or youth art centers. Individuals with musical experience can find opportunities at community choirs and performing arts centers or with local bands and orchestras. Finally, history buffs can volunteer their time working at museums, battlefields, national parks, monuments or other historical sites in the neighborhood or nearby towns.

Blake Mycoskie began his entrepreneurship with a simple idea, which was based on simple shoes that some people were wearing in a small village in Argentina. The company Toms Shoes was built on the concept of modifying these shoes for retail purposes, but now Mycoskie donates a pair for any product in his line that is sold around the world. Similar philanthropists, such as Bill Gates, begin with an idea, built an empire, and donated to charities, but Mycoskie founded Toms Shoes on the principle of helping others.

Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, is a name that is recognizable to almost anyone. Building a business and maintaining its stature presents a range of challenges, but Gates has taken his capabilities a step further to volunteer large amounts of money to become one of the leaders in world charities. Gates has recently donated $300 million dollars for education reform and teacher training in one Florida school district. The philanthropist has also pledged to donate much of his fortune to charity once he dies, and so have other philanthropists such as Warren Buffett and Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook. Toms Shoes joins a long line of philanthropy efforts around the world.

Zuckerberg, in fact, also donated a large sum of money to schools. This donation was allocated to the public school system in Newark, New Jersey in 2010. Also no stranger to philanthropy, Warren Buffett, the richest man in the world, has donated billions of dollars to charity including to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Such donations can serve many purposes, such as helping school systems, conducting disease research, and helping those with basic necessities. Toms Shoes offers a simple yet important necessity for people who cannot afford or don’t have access to footwear. This can stave off infection and disease, make many people more comfortable and improving the quality of life for those living in areas that have been plagued by poverty for generations.

1. Many families choose to volunteer by spending an evening cooking or serving food in a homeless shelter. There are a variety of tasks for all ages in soup kitchens, including shopping for food, preparing the meal, serving the items or washing the dishes.

2. Families can raise money for a charity by participating as a family in a walking, running, swimming or biking event. Many charity organizations host annual events to raise funds for medical conditions such as cancer and heart disease.

3. For families that enjoy the outdoors, consider picking up trash on a local road or at a park. Other outdoors opportunities are available walking dogs or playing with pets at local animals shelters. Families can also volunteer together at local community sporting events. Opportunities available in sports might include taking tickets, selling refreshments or assisting the players.

4. There are a variety of opportunities available working with children. Families can put together care packages or collect gifts for sick children or gather school supplies for students in other countries without easy access to books or computers.

5. Supporting the military is another great way to give back. Consider collecting phone cards for soldiers who are stationed away from their loved ones or making cards to send overseas.

6. During the holidays, many families will choose to “adopt” a less fortunate family and spend time together shopping for food, clothing and other gifts. Families that enjoy music can visit a hospital or retirement home and sing Christmas carols.

There are different levels of hospital volunteers, including entry level helpers and volunteers that require special training. Generally, the most advanced volunteers are able to work more closely with patients. They work as part of the nursing team and generally receive assignments from a head nurse. Advanced volunteer positions are common in large hospitals and teaching hospitals throughout the country. Traditionally, these individuals were called Candy Stripers because of the red and white outfits worn by the volunteers that resembled candy. However, most hospitals do not require this type of uniform today. Some hospitals do not mandate uniforms at all and just request that volunteers wear a name badge.

Many hospitals use a dispersal unit, or a central location for volunteers, as a way to easily assign help to departments that require assistance. Other hospitals will request volunteers to work in one specific area. There are usually positions available for volunteers of any age, including children, students and the elderly. These individuals come from many different walks of life and have many different reasons for volunteering.

If you want to do something good with your extra time, why not volunteer to help other people. There are plenty of people who are less fortunate than you, even if you have things rough right now. Rather than assume that you can’t do anything about it, or that someone else will help those people, you may want to get involved and do what you can to make things better for them. Volunteering can also help you feel better about yourself, because you’ll be doing something good for people who don’t have a lot and can be buoyed up by your presence and your concern for their lives.

Volunteering makes you appreciate the little things in life so much more than you might otherwise, which is a great way to see the beauty and the value in the kind of life that you have – and would like to build on in the future. The sense of satisfaction you get from helping other people is strong, and it’s valuable. Finding places where you can help out isn’t that difficult, either. You can check out Canada 411 for a great way to locate volunteer services near you. Search for “charities,” and you’ll get back a lot of information.

With the phone numbers, addresses, and descriptions you can get, you’ll have the chance to decide which ones sound like the best options to you. You can also consider taking a look at the map, so you can see which opportunities are the closest to you. If you find close choices, you can volunteer more regularly than you could if you lived further away, making it more convenient for everyone involved. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider charities that are farther away if you really want to volunteer there, but it’s always good to have options.

1. Libraries need volunteers to work the desk, shelf books, assist with community programs and help with fundraisers.

2. Homeless shelters look for volunteers that can help prepare meals, distribute supplies, perform administrative duties, organize food drives and gather contributions of meals and clothing.

3. Food banks serve meals to people in the community that can not afford to put dinner on the table. They need help managing inventory, cooking food, serving meals and washing dishes.

4. Senior citizen centers and retirement homes have many opportunities for children. Volunteering can be as simple as spending time with the residents by playing cards or checkers, running bingo games or sharing stories.

5. Animal shelters need assistance caring for the pets and preparing them for adoption. Children can help by cleaning cages, walking the animals or playing with them.

6. The Ronald McDonald House is an organization that provides temporary accommodations to families who have sick children who are being treated in a local hospital. Almost every city has one of these houses or a similar organization. Children can volunteer in many ways, including fundraising activities to cover the expenses of the charity.

7. Habitat for Humanity is an organization that builds houses for low income families. Although children may not be permitted to perform all construction tasks, the children can help by recruiting volunteers, serving refreshments to helpers and other administrative types of duties.

Internships as Volunteer Service

While building a personal career, an intern can also be doing or be preparing to do valuable work for the community. Most companies exist for a good reason. They produce product s and services that the community needs or desires. A banking internship will prepare the volunteer for a career that supports local small businesses and individuals. An internship with a local television station supports the need for timely news reports. Just about any career path, when looked at from this perspective, supports the community directly or indirectly.

Internships as Resume Builders

One of the big problems that students face after graduation is not having any direct experience in the jobs they want. Internships help to build credibility for prospective employers because the work performed, even if menial tasks, was done in a similar environment for an organization with the same objectives.

Internships as Exploratory Missions

Students in high school or college may want to do internships to explore the careers available in different industries. Choosing a career path while still in school can be a very difficult task. Being an intern brings the student close to people who have already made the choice one way or another. Asking a few questions while avoiding being a nuisance is a good way to find out about possibilities and the strategies to use for attaining a career goal.

While internships are not usually considered volunteer work because the work is done for a company and not a charity, the advantages are about the same. Careers can be developed, friends can be made, and a sense of serving the community can be a non-monetary reward.

Coordinating Volunteers

The Salvation Army coordinates its volunteers through a web site named Volunteer Match these days. This is an excellent place for people who want to volunteer but don’t know where to start. Searches can be done on location of the opportunities and keywords. The number and kinds of volunteer opportunities are vast, so something is bound to appeal to the prospective volunteer. The services of Registered Nurses (RNs) are always in demand and so are nutrition counselors for seniors, along with tax advisers. These volunteer positions are not necessarily with The Salvation Army, so a broad array of experiences can be found.

Signing Up Nonprofits

Volunteer Match also allows other nonprofits to sign up and post their recruitment needs. This is how the prospective volunteer can explore organizations other than The Salvation Army, and this makes Volunteer Match pretty much agnostic. The idea isn’t about recruitment into a particular religion, but helping people who are in need.

What Else than Soup Kitchens?

If the volunteer wants to work directly with The Salvation Army, there are many more opportunities to be found than serving out meals at soup kitchens. The Salvation Army works to find missing persons, aid in disaster relief, rehabilitate prisoners, administer youth camps and even to teach music. Well, of course. The Salvation Army is famous for its bands that always seem to include a tuba. This is not a full list, so the prospective volunteer should research what else The Salvation Army has to offer.

According to the U.S. laws, you can claim deductions on the contributions you made to the charitable organizations during the fiscal year. Whereas these donations to charities help you receive a larger tax refund, they also bring you a feeling of satisfaction that you are helping those in need. However, only the donations made to the qualified charitable organizations will count towards your claimable deductions. Also, various kinds of charitable organizations, such as public charities, fraternal organizations, private charities, private operating foundations and so on have varying deductibility limitations. For instance, public charities (one with the public sources of funding) such as churches, medical research organizations, or hospitals have the deductibility limit of 50 percent. Some examples include:

• Cancer Free Kids Pediatric Cancer Research Alliance
• Answer International, Inc.
• Herald Ministries
• Network for Jewish Care and Chaplaincy

You can visit the IRS website in order to identify if the charities you donated to are listed as the receivers of deductible contributions. Also, you can find out the deductibility codes applicable to them and calculate your tax deductions based on their deductibility limits and the amount of contributions you made. In order to find an accurate amount of payable tax, you can use a free tax calculator.

The free tax calculators available online can give an almost accurate estimate of what refund amount you should expect considering your income, deductions, tax rebates, and all the other parameters. You can enter the qualifying sum of money you contributed to charities, other applicable tax rebates, and your income in order to find out the payable tax and the expected amount of refund.

Part of being happy is helping others. I know when I do service for my friends and family that I feel happier. I’m sure it makes them happy too. So as part of the “better me” process, I am going to try to make others around me happy too. I’ve come up with three things I’m going to try.

1. Smile. A smile is such a simple thing, but it can really mean the world to someone else. I’m going to try smiling more at strangers on the street. I’m sure I’ll brighten someone else’s day. You never know who just needs to see a friendly face.

2. Help someone with an addiction. I think all of us are affected by addiction in one way or another. Chances are we have friends or family members who are addicted to drugs or alcohol. I know you can’t be happy with those substances in your body, so I’m going to help someone with addiction. The first thing I’ll do is learn more about recovery at TheCyn.com.

3. Be grateful. You know how easy it is to get caught up in everything you don’t have. I know I do this a lot. I think about how I need a bigger house or a better car. I think about how my hair is a mess or I could lose a few pounds. But that kind of thought only brings me down. So instead I’m going to remember everything that I’m grateful for. I’m going to start by making a list and then when I feel down or start to feel depressed, I’ll read this list. It always helps to remember all that I do have when I feel like I’m lacking.

Why don’t you try it with me? Try these three things this holiday season to see if you can bring more happiness to your life.

There are moments within that border on perfection. There are days you could never deny. Your children, however, seem more fascinated by the flicker of the television, the endless sprawl of the Internet. Technology dominates their attentions; and you struggle often to be heard, to be noticed. Life was never meant to be a competition but you’re battling for their glances now, trying to earn their grins. It’s not easy. It’s instead a domestic war: with you campaigning always, using clever strategy and Trojan-worthy manipulation.

You still think it’s not enough, though. You still think that you’re failing.

You don’t have to be.

There are ways to reward yourself as a parent and enable your children to understand the world beyond their own amusements. And volunteering is such a way. Too many mothers cringe with this, believing it to be a mistake. Their sons and daughters won’t appreciate this notion, they’re sure. They’ll instead rebel, refusing to participate in what they deem to be labor.

But volunteer opportunities are to be viewed instead as gifts: they allow each individual to offer something to those who need it most, to experience the rare pleasure of charity. Help is offered and received; and the process is one that will amaze even the most jaded of youths.

This is an essential experience for individuals to provide their children. Choosing to dedicate even an afternoon to the betterment of others will offer immense — and immediate — satisfaction. Teens who prefer to spend their seconds sulking within their rooms will be given an epiphany; little ones who are consumed by toys and a rush of candy will become self-aware; and you will be able to brand yourself a true success.

It is no simple feat to outmaneuver modern thrills. Volunteering, however, can earn you those always elusive smiles. It’s the aid that’s needed and the reward that is craved.

No matter what your special talent, passion, or interest, there is a way to use it in your volunteer work and do something with your gift that truly matters.

Performers
If you have always been gifted in the arts or enjoyed singing, dancing, or acting, consider taking your talents to a nursing home to perform for residents at a party or meal. Gather up a few friends and go as a group. After you perform, you can mingle with guests and help nursing home staff to serve refreshments or prepare an activity. If you play an instrument, you could volunteer to play during a gathering at a hospital or rehab center as patients are arriving and getting situated at the event.

Athletes
Many people who would rather spend their weekends at the gym or playing for their local adult soccer team don’t know how to translate this into volunteer work. Consider joining Big Brothers Big Sisters. This organization matches underprivileged kids with adult mentors who plan regular outings and activities to spend time together. Be sure to put your sports background on your application and the organization will try to match you with a Little Brother or Little Sister who also loves sports and would love someone to practice with or learn from.

Academics
If you would rather read or do research on interesting subjects than have to be social, there are plenty of volunteer tasks that are a good match. Try a local historical society or library to see if they need help. Many historical societies, both in the library and the museum, are staffed almost entirely by volunteers. They need volunteers to index new collections, perform research for patrons, and help reporters run fact checks. If you want a mix of social and non-social volunteer work, consider a museum where you can learn about collections and then give tours.

Volunteer work will be even more meaningful when you share something you love.

St. Anthony’s Bridal provides brides with a selection of wedding gowns that have been donated the organization. They also provide all of the accessories to go with it–veils, shoes, and even the bride’s bouquet. St. Anthony’s Bridal also has a collection of items to provide brides with a reception: table linens, flower arrangements, and decorations that they can borrow for their big day.

For women without a lot of resources, a wedding can seem a distant dream. St. Anthony’s is passionate about providing every bride with a chance to feel special on her big day.

St. Anthony’s is constantly seeking donations. After a wedding, there are always leftover decorations, centerpiece vases, and accessories that most brides will only store away in the attic. Instead, brides can donate these items to St. Anthony’s and let another bride use them to fulfill her dreams. For current brides, St. Anthony’s also offers their donated gowns for $150. This is a great way to get a bargain on a beautiful designer gown and also give a donation to a good cause.

In addition to donations, St. Anthony’s also needs people to staff the showroom, hand out brochures at bridal events, and help with all aspects of running the shops. They are on Volunteer Match (http://www.volunteermatch.com) and can use help from all past, current, and future brides who want to help make sure that every woman has a chance at a beautiful wedding that she will remember for a lifetime.

Decide what things are important or meaningful to you. Do you love children? Are you passionate about animals? Maybe you want to help fight homelessness, or want to work in the inner city. This will help to narrow down what types of organizations you would want to work in. Then look at your own talents and skills. How can your skills benefit the charity or group that you want to work with? Perhaps your organizational skills would make you a great coordinator. If you are charismatic and a good speaker, perhaps you can help raise funds.

Attend training sessions, orientations, or any other functions that the organization may hold for volunteers. This can help you to meet other people who volunteer and to see what the group is like and if they are a good match for you.

Start small and stay committed to what you say you will do. Organizations that are volunteer ran rely heavily on their volunteers to get the job done. Do not take a job that requires more than you are able to give at that moment. Make a small commitment until you are comfortable with your role. You can always add more responsibility later.

Volunteering is so important for many organizations. Without volunteers they cannot work to further their cause, help the people they are committed to, or work towards a common goal. When you volunteer you will be surprised by not only how much help you can give but how much it fulfills you.

Anyone into sports could complain about the same issue – virtually all sports require specialized gear which can cost a fair bit of money. With the economy stuck in a dumpster, more people than ever are finding less disposable dollars in their wallet with which to splurge on the entry into a new sport or pastime. But even sticking with an old favorite sport requires cash as gear wears out or breaks. Baseball bats snap in two, basketballs lose their sticky rubber coating, bicycle tires and grips go bald and brake cables stretch until they become useless and one is riding an unsafe machine. Shoe soles become smooth. Gloves develop holes where none existed. Coats get worn holes in the sleeves. Kayaks develop holes in the fiberglass. Tents tear.

Let’s face it, no matter how much one treats their leather products, or how well they clean their gear before putting it away, it tends to wear and need eventual replacement or repair. Repair, of course, extends the life cycle but not for as long as one could expect out of a new piece of gear. Trying to replace a large amount of gear at once can be prohibitively expensive unless one has access to a discount source such as offers.com.

With decent discounts on quality merchandise, one can at the very least maintain their interest in the sports that they’ve always loved. Money may not be available at the moment for buying a new rowboat, tackle, clothing, and fishing rod to begin a fisherman’s lifestyle, but with a price break, one can certainly replace a few items here and there as they wear out. And that’s more than enough to keep the interest and activity levels high. After all, when Babe Ruth can come out of a foster home with essentially nothing and rise as he did, it proves that all that’s needed is heart.

Begin by discussing with your family about the types of volunteer opportunities that they may be interested in. Everyone’s opinions and skills should be taken into consideration. Perhaps the children are animal lovers and would like to work with dogs, or maybe your teenage girls like to work with younger children. Make a list of what your family would like to do and would prefer not to do. Decide what type of commitment your family is willing to make.

Call various charities or organizations that relate to what your family has decided would work best. Make sure to ask what type of commitment is required as well as any special considerations. The nature of some groups may not allow them to have children around, or there may be minimum age requirements. You can also call local churches to see what type of assistance they may need. Sometimes churches have community outreach programs such as a food pantry or after school programs that they may need assistance with.

Enjoy the time you spend with your family while volunteering. Remember that you are teaching them a valuable lesson on helping others and setting a great example for them to follow. Your children will have increase self confidence, see that working is more than just a paycheck, and be positive role models for others to follow as well.

Volunteering can teach you a new skill or develop one that you already have. Organizations that are volunteer ran will often ask people to help with something that they are not familiar with if there is a need. Perhaps you are working with a group as a volunteer coordinator because you are organized but there is a need for someone to work hands on with children. You may need to fill that need, and as a result learn how to deal with children and work with them. This type of scenario happens in many groups. You will learn to grow by doing many different activities and tasks.

Volunteering will help you to connect with your community. You will be connecting with those in need in your immediate area. You will learn what your community needs and help to find ways to meet those needs. You may meet new friends in the process.

You will have more options for a career. If you volunteer in your career field, you will make your resume look more well rounded. If you are changing fields and your volunteer work is in the field you are moving to, it can be considered experience. In general, employers like to see that you are a volunteer because it means that you are willing to work, have compassion, and are a team player.

You set a good example for those around you. One person can make a difference, but when that difference is multiplied, it can be life changing. When you show family and friends how fulfilling volunteering can be,you set the example for them to follow.

1. Volunteering is beneficial to you. It helps you take the focus away from yourself. Focusing on someone else reduces your stress. When you see that others are benefiting from your assistance, it makes you happy and optimistic that you can make a difference. Happiness and optimism, or any positive emotion, makes your immune system stronger. Volunteering can also open up new career opportunities. Volunteering in a field allows you to gain experience that employers can appreciate.

2. It helps the community that you live in. If you volunteer with children, you are strengthening not only the children, but their families. You can volunteer to help clean up your neighborhood, or work with the elderly. Any volunteer work you do works to better your part of the world.

3. It saves resources that can be used in other ways. By volunteering your time, the organization does not have to pay someone to do the same job and can use that money to further the cause of the group. It also helps those that are paid to put more time into their jobs, which will also help to further the organization.

4. You will learn a lot more than you think. You will learn more about your community and how it works. You will learn how the government works with organizations and non profit. You will also learn about yourself. You will gain self esteem as you see just how important you are, you will learn if you have any hidden talents , and you will learn how to use your talents to better the world you live in.

Knowing how much volunteering can do for you, the next step is to dive right in!

The holidays are full of opportunity for you to be involved with your children in a volunteer setting. Many local churches have trees set up with names of children in need of gifts. Schools also may have an opportunity to pick a child to help during this season. Take your child shopping with you and let them pick out the items that you are going to donate. Tell them who the items are for and why it is important to share with others in this season. Visit your local soup kitchen or food pantry and ask how you can be of assistance at this time as well. Although children may not be able to serve food, they can help stack utensils, clean up, and prepare water and beverages.

Once the holidays are over, there are still plenty of opportunities to volunteer with your children. The food pantry will always need help stocking and organizing foods. The soup kitchens may have year round opportunity has well. Even simple things, like gathering old clothing and shoes to take them to goodwill, or helping at church can be a great way to have your children help your community.

Make sure that whatever opportunity you choose for your family to serve, it is one that the family can learn from, enjoy, and commit to. Volunteering can teach your children a lesson and you may be surprised at the lessons you can learn too.

One Warm Coat organizes coat drives across the United States to collect coats for people in need. For many people, donating a coat costs nothing and they can go to a local coat collection to drop off old coats. For people without a local coat collection, One Warm Coat can collect coats through the mail. Simply pack up your coat and ship it off to them. Information on donating coats in available at their website: http://www.onewarmcoat.org.

One Warm Coat also provides resources for groups or individuals looking to host a coat drive. Information, again is available at their website and there is a way that anyone can help.

Many children outgrow coats each year and old coats stay in the closet and aren’t used for years. Families can create a shared experience by involving young children in the process of sorting their winter coats. Everyone understands what it must be like to be cold on a winter day. Through this learning experience, young children can learn about why we clean out our closets and help people in need.

This is an easy way to involve children in volunteer work and instill in them a lifelong desire to help others. Children whose parents helped them to volunteer from a young age will take that understanding of community with them throughout their life. In the case of One Warm Coat, children love the idea that they are helping other children by sharing their things with them.

A coat is an essential winter item that everyone should be able to have this winter. One Warm Coat makes it possible to share old coats with others and help them to keep everyone warm throughout the colder months.

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, based in Washington, DC, works to eliminate domestic violence. Domestic violence is one of the most unreported crimes in this country and many families suffer in silence for years without getting help.

The sad truth is that many women stay in abusive situations out of economic necessity. That is where domestic violence centers can help women to find the resources to get help and, in many cases, to get their family to safety. One of the simplest ways to get involved in the fight against domestic violence is to donate used cell phones.

Many people get a new cell phone every year or every two years. With new technology constantly being unrolled, many households have entire boxes of old cell phones just sitting around. These cell phones can make a big difference in the life of a woman who is a victim of domestic violence.

Women and families leaving domestic violence situations often have nothing. Having a cell phone provides them with a link to resources, a way to secure a job, and a way to call for help in an emergency. Deactivated cell phones are in constant demand at the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence and at domestic violence centers across the country.

This year, the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence joined forces with ReCellular, Inc. to collect used cell phones. ReCellular, Inc. works to re-purpose or recycle all used cell phones to ensure that they are not ending up in landfills.

People who are interested in sending their used cell phone to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence can find all of the necessary forms and information on their website: http://www.ncadv.org/files/NCADV%20Donate%20a%20Phone%20web%20label%202010.pdf.

Information is also available for families or individuals interested in hosting a community or school event to collect used phones. Every single phone is put to good use and serves as a way for women and families to find safety as they escape domestic violence.

Many families spend time volunteering at Thanksgiving. During the holidays, there are many reminders—ads, public service announcements, and people outside the mall—to help us remember to help those in need.

Volunteering at the holidays is a wonderful tradition, but what will happen for the rest of the year? The same people who face poverty and hunger in the holiday season still have the rest of the year ahead of them and non-profit organizations that serve them still need help.

One of the best things parents can do is to start a tradition of volunteering as a family once a week. It can be for one cause or local organization that really matters to them—like a local soup kitchen that always needs help preparing or serving dinners—or a different organization each week to allow each member of the family to select a place where they would like to donate their time.

For most families, giving the gift of their time adds up to more than they would be able to donate in money. Non-profits are understaffed, particularly in bad economic times, and can almost always find a place for additional help.

Many websites, like Volunteer Match at http:www.volunteermatch.com can help you to identify the right opportunities and the right contact information for places near your home. They also have categories of age appropriateness to help choose tasks where even small children can begin to participate.

Putting volunteer time on your weekly calendar will help it happen all year long. When it’s a set day of the week and a set time, people will be less tempted to forget or to postpone for other obligations. They can begin to plan on it and schedule around the evening that they know they will be volunteering. Volunteering as a group can also be a great way to spend time with your family and bond with your kids while helping others in your community.