Why do people give up their precious leisure time and their accumulated wealth to become engaged in philanthropic endeavors?
There is a ton of literature on the subject, but I have a very practical and ground-floor view, which I would like to share.
1. To do what we can to make this a better world.
Whether it’s in helping starving children to grow to adulthood, or bringing some comfort to suffering people, or helping children and youth grow to become more fulfilled adults, most people want to leave some legacy on the world. Many do it by contributing some of their disposable income to those less fortunate. Others give their lives, or some part of their lives, to reaching out and leaving a positive impact on people. For those who give generously, they want to see first hand the impact of their generosity, and will often put themselves in uncomfortable or dangerous situations to get closer the recipients of the largesse. In most cases it means some personal sacrifice.
2. To giving meaning to their own lives.
For some who work in jobs whose rewards are purely materialistic, at some point in their lives they ask, “Is that all there is?” and seek an avocational pursuit that will provide balance to a rather meaningless job. This is why so many people volunteer some of their time to community service. Some of us were fortunate enough to have chosen public service for our careers. I recommend you open your childrens’ eyes to a career of public service. They will never regret it.
3. Many do community service from their religious commitment.
The great religions all stress the need to serve the widows, the strangers and the poor. For some it is done through giving, but others need to actually leave the comfort of their life and make some real sacrifice to feel they are living up to their religious tenants.
I have seen time and time again that people come to a charity thinking they will be helping others, and find they are really helping themselves. This is a beautiful thing. It is virtually impossible to reach out to a stranger without having that experience dramatically alter your life. I see it in mentoring, in those working with the elderly or the terminally ill, with troubled teens or those struggling with addiction. How many time have I heard, “I got so much more out of that experience than I give.”
This leads me to a couple more simple observations:
• We want you, not your money
It’s wonderful to give money but first give of yourself. Don’t hide behind your checkbook. Oh, we do need your money, but what will really make a difference is for you to see how public generosity can make such a difference in a community. What we really want is you, not just your money. Once you’ve been touched by the people served by our nonprofits, your gifts will be spontaneous and more generous.
• Bring your skills and talents with you.
These will provide real lasting value to others. Help teens understand the importance of education by sharing your story, or by just showing up for them when nobody else does. If you have some creativity, share it with those who have no beauty in their lives. If you know how to make organizations work better, get on a board and help us improve our nonprofits. If you enjoy music, share that with a child who has never heard good music. And on and on…
• Retirees and unemployed
Obviously, this is addressed to everyone, but specifically to those of you who are retired or currently unemployed. You have the precious gift of time. While you do, get out of your shell, away from your computer, and sign up to do volunteer work at one of the thousands of nonprofits seeking your help. In this recession, agencies need skilled pro-bono help now more than ever. And the rewards to you could be life-changing.
The moral of this story is simple, if we want a world where we will be happy and comfortable, we have to make it happen for others. Most real social change occurs because of some one-on-one contact that you have with a stranger, which forever changes both of your lives. It’s never too late to open your eyes and your heart!
Tags: Barrie, Volunteers