Volunteering: A Gift to Yourself and Others

Paper Summary:

This paper provides a personal account of a woman's volunteer work within the context of a review of studies, concluding that volunteerism can be beneficial for both the volunteers and the recipients.

From the Paper:

"When I was about 12 years old, I started my journey of volunteer work. My first act of volunteering was participating in the March of Dimes walk-a-thon, 33 miles through downtown Seattle. When everyone was gathering at the Seattle Center there was a sense of excitement. After check-in we were all given a map and told where the checkpoints were. At each checkpoint our card was stamped, we would be given water to drink and encouragement to continue. It did not matter how long it took each participant to compete the walk because our pledges were by the miles walked. I completed all 33 miles and enjoyed every moment. What an adventure for a young girl. The sense of accomplishment created a desire to continue with this type of service. I participated in the walk-a-thon for the next several years. I have often wondered what drove such a young girl to do this sort of thing. My parents were not big on the act of volunteering it seemed that they were more worried about getting enough money to feed the family. So what was it? According to the article "Volunteer Work and Well-Being," there is a possibility that some people possess what is called "the volunteer personality model" which means that volunteer work may be part of what makes up that person (117). I believe this is what motivates my involvement.
"After taking a hiatus for several years, I started to volunteer again when my children started preschool. While my community service was a required activity attached to my children's particular preschool, it did get me back into volunteering. Soon I would be volunteering on a weekly basis in my children's elementary classroom. I loved the opportunity to be involved with the students learning and I would help them with reading and writing skills. Since I was in the classroom, every week the teacher and students soon began to expect me to be in the there, I was an iatrical part of their learning environment. The students in the classroom knew that if they needed help that I was always willing to give them the attention that they needed to succeed. This experience would teach me several skills such as patients, time management and communication skills that I now use on a daily basis."

Sample of Sources Used:

• "Benefits of Volunteering." 2004. Giving and Volunteering. 24 Apr 2008 <http://www.givingandvolunteering.net/pdf/factsheets/Benefits_of_Volunteering.pdf>.
• "Daffodil Days." 2008. American Cancer Society. 25 Apr 2008 <http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PAR/Content/PAR_4_1_Daffodils_About_Daffodil_Days.asp>.
• DePalma, Ann-Marie. "Making the World a Better Place." 1 Sep 2007. ABI/INFORM Trade & Industry. ProQuest. Everett Community Coll. Library, WA. 18 Apr 2008 <http://www.proquest.com/>.
• Harrison, Warren. "Giving Back." 2006. Platinum Periodicals. 18 Apr 2008 <http://www.proquest.com/>.
• Oesterle, Sabrina, Monica Kirpatrick Johnson and Jeylan T. Mortimer. "Volunteerism during the Transition to Adulthood: A Life Course Perspective." Social Forces 82.3 Mar 2004. 1123-1149. JSTOR. Everett Community Coll. Library, WA. 25 Apr 2008 <http://www.jstor.org/stable/3598368>.

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