Brought to you by Nuffnang and Seek Volunteer.
When I look back on my life, it is the times when I was making a difference that are my favourite experiences. Whether it was with a teacher, a friend, a family member, a stranger, or my own children, it continues to be the moments that I have connected with someone, and somehow touched their heart, that are so preciously stored in my memory.
Some of the most moving experiences I have ever had have been times I was volunteering.
I clearly remember helping out at Special Olympics when I was a teenager and working at the Rape Crisis Centre when I was in university. I will never forget handing out plates of food in a soup kitchen during spring break or, more recently, watching kids’ faces light up as they become empowered during classes that help build their character.
The feelings of compassion, gratitude and hope that I have had throughout those moments has been inspiring, to say the least. Not only do I remember to be grateful for what I have in my own life, but I am reminded how fortunate I am to have time and skills to make a difference in someone else’s… even if I don’t feel I’m doing much. Volunteering makes it clear that love and connection are what is important, and helps me feel part of the community. Even though I am “giving” my time, I always receive an invaluable gift from each and every experience.
Why have I chosen to spend time volunteering, when I could be enjoying some sort of entertainment or taking part in another activity? The first reason is probably that my parents encouraged me to participate in volunteer projects when I was younger and so this past-time has naturally become a priority in my life as I have moved out and started my own family. But perhaps even more important is that I am simply following their example.
It was just part of my childhood that on some days my mother went to visit women who had recently moved to our country to help them learn English and other skills, such as how to drive or apply for jobs. My father spent time offering his skills to our religious community to help put on various events. Both my mother and father were involved in my school – volunteering as a teacher’s aide or helping with after-school clubs and sports teams.
As a parent myself, I can now see what a commitment this was for them to offer their time and their energy to jobs that were unpaid and, for the most part, unrecognised. Volunteering can seem daunting as a parent because we are so busy with the basic responsibilities of life, not the least of which might be a full-time job and caring for our families. But taking out a few hours of your week – or even month – to help someone else not only brings so much satisfaction to one’s own life but offers their children a positive role model to follow as well.
In a world that is generally focused on monetary gain or rising up the corporate ladder, volunteering one’s time and services for free is one of the greatest ways to teach compassion. Everyone has something to offer – even if you only have a small amount of time, every little bit makes a difference. I am grateful my parents set this example for me, so that I could learn the value of volunteer work in my own life and can hopefully pass this on to my children as well.
This week is National Volunteer Week (12th – 18th May) so it’s a great time to put a little extra effort into finding some volunteer work you and your family can enjoy. Imagine if everyone donated a few hours to make a difference in any way they could, big or small… what incredible work could be done in our communities. So spread the word! Share your experiences with your friends and invite them to join in too.
If you are wondering where to start, Seek Volunteer makes it easy by offering a search engine to connect people with organisations that need help. The online database allows people to find volunteer opportunities by location, cause, interests, time, availability, and more. Once you see a volunteer opportunity that fits with your passions and schedule, you can express interest by filling out a simple form online and then the relevant organisation will get in touch with more information.
On the flip side, if you have or are involved in an organisation, be sure to list volunteer opportunities on the website. It’s a great way to reach people who want to help.
Volunteering is one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life, and I look forward to sharing the joy with my children in the coming years. I believe volunteering can teach both children and adults so much: about being selfless, appreciating others, remembering how connected we all are, and understanding that one of the greatest gifts in life is giving to others.
Have you even volunteered or have you considered volunteering? What did you get out of the experience? Would you consider using the Seek Volunteer site?
Thank you to Nuffnang and Seek Volunteer for sponsoring this post. To read more about sponsorship on my website, visit this page.
Great post Chels. I didn’t know about Seek volunteer, I’ll have to check it out. We have done some volunteer work and found it very fulfilling. Currently I am volunteering a fair bit at my daughter’s school as it’s an easy area for me to help out with (as a teacher myself). It’s easy to say we’re too busy for things like this but I do think that we always manage to make time to do the things we love, so we can make time to do the things that are important too. A great thing for children to witness and to be part of as well.
Thanks Debs. I think volunteering at school is the natural thing to do when you are a parent of young children especially. My dad is always running into kids who knew him from when he helped with sports teams or clubs… it’s amazing how many lives you can touch and you don’t even realise the impact you had.
This is such a cool idea! I’ve been thinking of volunteering my time, now that Rocky is a little older. One of my main reasons for wanting to volunteer is to be a role model to my kids 🙂
Good luck finding an organisation that fits for you Kylie 🙂 I’ve heard there are some that are friendly to mums with toddlers as well!
You’re such a thoughtful Mum. I would love to start volunteering. At the moment my time is fully booked but I do volunteer at school and other little events. I think that alone shows my children that it’s meaningful to help others. I’d love to volunteer more when my children are in school!
Helping at school and little events is still volunteering! I don’t think anyone should feel guilty for not helping enough. We can all only do our best and everyone’s situation is different! I am not doing any regular volunteering with organisations now either. I teach a children’s class on the weekend and we do our “random acts of kindness”… with each season of parenthood there will be different opportunities 🙂
Lovely post Chelsea. I volunteer my time mostly at my children’s school at the moment via school council, classroom and their kitchen garden program which I helped establish. My kids understand that a lot of what happens, happens because of the work volunteers do. Personally I acknowledge that my mum was only able to stay at home on her own as long as she did because of the work of many groups supported by volunteers. Like you, I am a strong believer that children learn by seeing and doing.
Such a good point that kids will see first hand what volunteering does, when it’s in their school. Thanks for sharing, Nichole, I appreciate your insight. 🙂
Such a lovely post Chelsea! I used to coordinate a program with volunteers and it always left me in awe how much they gave of themselves and how much they were able to help families less fortunate than themselves 😉
Thank you for writing this wonderful post Chelsea. I absolutely love volunteering and it is something that everyone can get involved in to make a difference. I’d love to volunteer more and will absolutely check out the suggested link you’ve provided. Thanks for the inspiration.
A wonderful post Chelsea – it is so easy to feel you don’t have time but as you say it doesn’t need to be every week, just a few hours a month can make a difference to others.
This post is just lovely! Such an inspiration you’re offering other parents — in addition to your own family of course. For those in the United States, our nonprofit organization Doing Good Together™ offers lots of resources for family volunteering opportunities, as well as at-home projects that make a difference to others. Many can be done right from one’s own kitchen table! Kudos and huge thanks to all volunteers, of all ages, who realize the benefits of serving others.
Thanks for the encouragement 🙂 I actually linked to your website a couple years ago 🙂 http://www.momentsaday.com/serving-with-children-four-resources/ Thanks for all that you do!
Although I am just now finding this post, a few years after it was published, it’s message still rings true today. Thank you for encouraging families to volunteer together and being an example of the imprint that it can leave on a child’s life years later. 😉
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