We are beyond lucky to have a home that welcomes us with open arms and a table full of food when we go home for holiday break. We receive countless presents and get to sit in our warm homes and watch movies to our heart's content.

And luckily, a lot of us recognize how great we have it from time to time... but mainly during the holiday season.

There must be something about the smell of turkey, the Michael Buble Christmas album, and a bit of snow on the ground that reminds people just exactly how lucky we have it.

But the misfortune of others does not get put away like our Christmas trees after the New Year. The lives that we feel this temporary sympathy for, endure struggles far beyond a certain three-month span.

Sure, most everyone donates a few dollars to the Salvation Army or a couple cans to their local food bank. But what about the people who need those canned goods on a daily basis, not just on Christmas morning? Or the parents who want to get their child a gift for their birthday but can't afford it in the middle of June?

It never fails to amaze me the number of people who are willing to go out and volunteer during the holiday season, when charities are struggling to get enough volunteers throughout the rest of the year. There is no amount of marketing or pleading for volunteers that will bring people in like they do during the holidays.

I'm a firm believer that people should volunteer at all times of the year regardless of whether or not there is snow on the ground. I know that I have been given a remarkable life, far beyond what others could ever imagine. It is with that in mind that I try to offer my help whenever I can.

We've all been told that volunteering builds your resume, but it goes far beyond that. Volunteering keeps your feet on the ground as you realize that your struggles are essentially minuscule when put next to those of others. It allows you to gain the ability to work with and understand people who come from a variety of backgrounds.

Not forgetting to mention that I have also met some of the nicest people while volunteering. I try to volunteer at least an hour a week, but there are people who give up the majority of their free time for other people.

There are so many other things that you could fill your time with, but I will always argue that this is the best and most rewarding way. I know that a lot of people argue that you should just get a job doing the same thing but in that you lose the true meaning of volunteering.

Volunteering allows you to help others with absolutely no benefit to yourself, except the knowledge that you helped someone else. You can easily make someone's day, week, or month by taking the time to help others out. Take the time to volunteer even when it's not the holiday season, I promise that you will not regret it.