Why volunteering is important

I experienced one of the best feelings in the world at Glide Memorial Church about a year ago. Something about waking up at the crack of dawn to serve hot breakfasts to those who have been out in the cold, San Francisco weather all night made me feel so incredibly inspired to volunteer even more.  

So, why volunteer? Every minute, hour, or day devoted to serving those in need can ultimately build a stronger community. Even with my busy schedule, I always set time aside to volunteer whether it’s with school clubs like Interact or Red Cross, or with the Leadership class. I’m even able to do what I love and relieve stress from school while benefitting the community.

Recently, Hurricane Harvey hit parts of Texas which resulted in many displaced families, pets, and destroyed homes. Situations were very strenuous and tough on everyone in the devastated areas but people with open arms reached out to provide shelter and care for the time being. Much more help is still needed and unfortunately,  volunteers from big organizations like the Red Cross are unable to send as many helpers down because of the ongoing fires in other states and Hurricane Irma. It’s possible that having a shortage of volunteers won’t be a problem in future because I believe that if we build our purpose for volunteering in high school or in the early stages of our life, we can have one in hand for the future.

Yes, it’s true that most high schoolers volunteer for the benefit of college applications but there’s definitely more to it. I encourage you to choose events that genuinely interest you and possibly going with a group of friends will make it even more enjoyable. If you’re already out there endlessly serving the community, I hope you know how wonderful that experience is. And if it’s just the beginning of your volunteering journey, I encourage you to take advantages of the opportunities available because help is always needed in your community.

Unfortunately, there are disastrous situations in which volunteers are unable to help out with disaster relief directly at the area impacted. But donating cash to charities that specialize in providing those hit with disasters or even non-perishable food items can go a long way.

When we come together as a team, our efforts become stronger and the impact is greater.