The Role of Volunteering

Shondranika Vall

George Bauer

English 1102        

02/22/15

The Role of Volunteering

Introduction

Volunteerism, in an essential outline, contains an individual, who is acknowledged as a volunteer, entering into, or offering for any service of his/her own, to freely give their time to benefit and comfort others. For example, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., stated, “Everybody can be great because everybody can serve, you don’t have to have a college degree to serve… You only need a heart full of grace and a soul generated by love. Then you can be that servant.”

In this research paper, volunteering in the United States will be deeply studied. Opening, I will give a brief explanation of a volunteer and then focus on the comforts of volunteerism. Next in order, I will discuss the originality and benefits of volunteering in the United States. Third, I will provide a graph listing many activities performed by volunteers. Fourthly, I will explain many causes of the topic. Fifth, I will explain what is being done about volunteering. Last, I will give a conclusion restating my topic and the importance I found in the role of volunteering.

What does volunteer mean?

As reported by the U.S. Legal, a volunteer is:

A person performing services for a nonprofit organization, nonprofit corporation, a public agency, a hospital, or governmental entity without reimbursement.

There are many meanings of the word volunteer. Many people have defined a volunteer as “an individual who freely provides services and goods and does not expect to be paid as a result.” For reference, Dictionary.com describes a volunteer as a person who voluntarily offers himself or herself for a service or undertaking. A volunteer is someone who is not asked to perform services, but instead, someone who openly does it out the kindness of their heart, expecting nothing in return.  

What are the benefits of volunteering?

Studies show that volunteering is a big saving on the economy. It is understandable that volunteers have the advantage to get the government to do many things without a cost.

Most importantly, volunteering is a useful way to include the public assistance into the organization around the community. It’s very important for public matters and wishes to be purposefully and effectively achieved. As of today, volunteers are known for their ability to enlighten citizens and the power to develop liberty.

There are in also many more benefits of volunteerism, which is recognized today in the U.S. Many benefits consists of:

1. Volunteering has a good look on applications for employment almost anywhere in the United States
2. Volunteers provide services on their own time, and out the kindness of their heart. They also provide excitement, supplies, and intelligence during service.
3. Volunteers offer business beyond the United States government agency, like raising funds.

Volunteer Extra Curricular Activities

There are multiple activities volunteers participate in, in America. The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (September 2008), identified that majority of American participated in an activity at least once between 2007- 2008.

The graph below will list the most known activities participated in, in the United States.

[pic 1]

Causes of Volunteering

There are many reasons you should consider being a volunteer. In America, many people volunteer to help out with the basic needs around their community. But, it doesn’t just stop there. To be a volunteer, you have to enjoy providing service for others. You have to find something that interest you and that you know you will have the best outcome doing. In my opinion, people who volunteer tend to feel self-satisfaction about themselves after providing a wonderful service.

Below is a graph of causes as to why many people volunteer.