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Where do
“they” come from? A school needs a fundraiser
and someone in the meeting says, “I can do
that.” A tornado sweeps through an Oklahoma
suburb and 200 people are there the next morning
with hammers, wheelbarrows, and smiles to help
rebuild. An old man in a rest home looks across
a chess board at a young man and asks, “Why do
you come each week?”
“They” are
volunteers; the backbone of a caring society,
comfort in a time of crisis, and a remarkable
ray of hope when things look their darkest.
Volunteers make things happen that would
otherwise go undone. Coaches for Little League,
leaders for the Girl Scouts, servers at the
homeless shelter, a listening ear for troubled
teens; the list, fortunately, goes on forever.
Volunteerism knows no
boundaries. People help each other without
expectation of pay in every corner of the world.
It can be highly organized or spontaneous. There
are annual events where hundreds gather to
serve, and unexpected moments when we simply
need to jump in and help.Volunteers
by definition do not receive monetary
compensation. Then why do thousands upon
thousands of people volunteer every day? It is
because the pay is priceless. The feeling we get
from helping in a way that is truly needed
satisfies a part of us that money cannot. We
never know when service will be needed at our
own door. And then it will be our turn to allow
someone else to share in that priceless gift.
Volunteering... Pass It
On.
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