Service: The Best Gift You Can Give

Now that I’m older and can finally make some decisions on my own, I’m thinking more about the things that matter to me in my heart; the things that I can make a difference in and find a way to love what I do.  I am a nonprofit leadership studies minor so I’m obviously really into volunteering to do things. 

I volunteer intrinsically, meaning I volunteer my time because I am motivated to help others, make others feel good and, while it seems selfish, feel better about myself. You shouldn’t feel bad about having that fulfilled feeling after volunteering and helping someone UNLESS you had an ulterior motive, which leads us to another form of motivation: Extrinsic motivation.  This form of motivation is when you volunteer to avoid punishment, earn a special award, make yourself look better in the public eye, or when you try to impress someone. You’re probably thinking that even though extrinsic motivation is bad, people are still helping others and volunteering and yeah, that’s great, but you should never take advantage of the things you have that other people don’t.  Extrinsically motivated people often times, while most don’t mean to, show that they don’t particularly want to be doing what they’re doing, making recipients of the service intimidated or worried, resulting in them not coming back to receive an essential service.

As we know, the holiday season is the season of giving and I don’t know if it’s just me that feels like this, but sometimes giving gifts doesn’t always make me feel like I’ve done something worthwhile.  So if you’re looking to do a little something extra this holiday season (and maybe for the rest of the year) check out a couple of ways to volunteer:

1. IF you have the extra cash…

Check out a program like Angel Tree or Operation Christmas Child.  The cheaper option is Operation Christmas Child with Samaritan’s Purse where you pack a shoebox FULL of goodies for children such as: a “wow” item, personal care items, school supplies, clothing and accessories, crafts and activities, toys, and a personal note.  If you’re looking to spend some real cash, find someone with an Angel Tree.  Angel Tree is where a church or school provides names of children that are in need of essential items for throughout the year that they can receive as Christmas gifts. Angel Tree suggests only spending $15-$25 but it is open for the volunteer to spend what they feel like. My mom and I do two shoeboxes and two Angel Tree children every year as our mother-daughter tradition.  These are both SO much fun. 

2. If you’re not up for spending the extra cash…

Check out a local nonprofit. Often times, nonprofits are needing the most help around the holidays or through the summer.  The best options for smaller towns like we’re in are soup kitchens, Salvation Army bell ringers, any kind of clothing drives, and even more.  Check out a site like VounteerMatch that matches you to volunteer opportunities in your area.  Nonprofits are almost always looking for new volunteers with new ideas and new skill sets so you should never be afraid to ask to volunteer somewhere new. Finding a nonprofit you love can be the key to finding a hobby that you never let go.

Service isn’t always just volunteering to do work.  Service can also be loading some bags into a car for an elderly couple at the grocery store or helping a student on campus when they drop something.  Also, consider paying it forward sometime.  When I go somewhere and someone pays for my meal it puts me in the best mood so why shouldn’t I keep the happiness going?  All in all, doing these acts of kindness can benefit you and the people you help.   

• holidays
• volunteering