Everyone’s had times where they’re sitting in front of their computer screen, scrolling aimlessly between Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for hours to no end. We could be going to the gym, learning a new hobby or even trying out new restaurants. We could be studying more for our classes, partying more with our friends, or making money at a part time job.
We could also be volunteering.
If you have the ability to lounge around and to scroll through social media for hours, that means you also have the ability to help others. Whether it’s through raising money for charity or physically helping out at a food bank, there are countless ways that you can use your time to make a difference.
It’s easy to blow off volunteering with reasons like a lack of time or lack of volunteering opportunities, but I can guarantee that there will never be a lack of places you can help out at. If you live in the city, there are homeless shelters, food banks, food distribution centers, animal shelters, and even school events that need hundreds and even thousands of volunteers. In Los Angeles alone, there are over 600 food distribution centers that help feed anyone in need of food, and every day, these places need volunteers.
I get that volunteering isn’t always fun, and can even feel boring sometimes. Nevertheless, it can still be extremely rewarding to know that you’ve helped someone get through a hard time in their life. There are incredible people doing incredible services for the communities every day without being recognized in any way. There are people pouring their blood, sweat and tears into building foundations for the youth to have a safe environment to learn in, and there are people who sort through literally thousands of pounds of food each week to make sure kids and families don’t go hungry.
Volunteer not because you’ll always get something back in return - volunteer because it is your duty as a living being to care for another living being in this world.
If you don’t know of any place that needs volunteers around you, Google your area. Wherever you live, you’ll find someplace and some cause that will resonate with you. Whether it’s an animal shelter where you can play with dogs all day, or youth centers where you can build relationships with kids while teaching them math, you can make a positive impact in your community. All you have to do is start looking.
Out of all the activities and hobbies you could get into, there’s one thing worth getting out of your chair for, and that’s volunteering.
