Volunteering is a vital part of the health of our community. When people we reach out a hand to one, we influence the condition of all. Whether it’s reading to children or delivering meals to homebound seniors, there are hundreds of volunteer options available every day.
For many people, volunteering is about giving back. But did you ever stop to consider what you get out of volunteering?
Sure, there’s the practical things…meeting new people, learning new skills, teaching others your skills, enhancing your resume. But did you ever wonder if the life you were changing by volunteering might be your own?
United Way of Pierce County sent 75 volunteers out into the community as part of the Leadership Day of Caring. Some signed up as a team building opportunity for their office. Others joined in because “it’s the right thing to do”. While others, just wanted to help. But many of them found that they walked away with something unexpected.
Volunteers who worked side by side with developmentally disabled clients at L’Arche Farm and Gardens, found joy dancing in the greenhouse and chasing the chickens around the yard. They ended their morning exhausted but learned from their co-planters that great satisfaction comes from a job well done, no matter what your abilities.
Others arrived to help English as a second language students perfect their speech at Tacoma Community House and left educated about new cultures and reminded that all of our ancestors made the same trip to the United States in search of a better life. They made new friends and gained new appreciation for the freedoms we often take for granted.
Every day, ordinary people are accomplishing extraordinary things by volunteering. They build houses. They beautify parks. They complete repairs that would otherwise not get done. And sometimes, they take away a little more than they gave. Take a chance to experience something unexpected. Volunteer.
WE WANT TO KNOW…Tell us about a volunteer experience you had where you came away with something unexpected.
Check out the rest of the photos from Leadership Day of Caring at http://www.flickr.com/photos/uwpc_liveunited/sets/
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