Volunteering: Mutually Beneficial for All

Volunteering to assist people in need, not only provides a valuable resource for the person receiving the needed assistance, your outreach can also provide mutual benefits in ways you might never expect.

 

 There are many opportunities to become a volunteer. People being affected by natural disasters, victims of war, aging world population, people with disabilities and many others needing assistance are just a few examples.

 

Over the years I have been grateful to have had the ability to provide my time, caring and skills to help others in need.

After I lost all of my eyesight, I was very fortunate to have found unselfish caring volunteers to assist with tasks I can no longer accomplish on my own.

 

As you can imagine, having perfect eyesight one day and finding myself completely blind after awakening from a three month coma adds new challenges, obstacles, barriers and opportunities for me and my family.

 

SAMPLE - Tasks I can no longer accomplish or need assistance with (Volunteer Ideas):

• Read printed materials

 

• Fill out paper forms

 

• Ability to go anyplace any time without first planning, to insure there is an accessible route to my desired destination

 

• Drive a motor vehicle to travel when and where I want or need to go

 

• Complete all required maintenance around my place of residence

 

• Mechanically and electrically maintain our family vehicle

 

•Help my wife around our place of residence, like I used to be able to do

 

SAMPLE - Volunteer opportunities I have had and benefits:

 

• Mentor individuals with disabilities or other challenges to provide encouragement and sharing of life’s experiences to assist the individuals to not give up on their dreams and pursue ahead in life

BENEFITS: I have been able to feel the satisfaction of assisting individuals to maintain their current job or assist them in searching for a new career. I have also heard the joy and renewed confidence in the person’s voice after assisting them to better cope with the stress, anxiety and uncertainty of being affected by a new disability or other challenges.

 

• Accept the fact I can no longer do all I used to be able to do and allow volunteers to help me

BENEFITS: I have had the opportunity to meet caring and unselfish people, some have become lifelong friends. I was given the opportunity to learn from my volunteers’ unique experiences.  I was able to accomplish and experience many passions I had when I had eyesight and now with the assistance from volunteers I am able to continue some of my passions as a blind person.

 

• When possible contribute to local nonprofit organizations and all people they assist by contributing time as a volunteer, donate financially or, if asked, being on their Board of Directors

BENEFITS: Helping the community I live in and the people who require the organizations’ assistance. Learn valuable management and business skills to assist with my professional career.

 

I feel it is vitally important to assist others in need.

Just imagine if your assistance helped a person overcome an obstacle to propel them to accomplish work to help many others that could not have become a reality without your assistance.

 

Do you participate in volunteering? What benefits do you get from assisting individuals and non-profit Organizations? Do you have any tips or stories to help us be more effective volunteers?

 

Let’s help others in need by becoming a volunteer and by assisting non-profit organizations.

We look forward to hearing from you.

 

Bill Tipton

Contributing Author,

Global Dialogue Center

http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/wdtipton

Facebook: http://profile.to/wdtipton

Twitter: http://twitter.com/wdtipton

Comments

[AJ]

Vary nice.

[Bernard Knox.]

Bill has helped many disabled people with his Dialogue, and experiences. He has set an example by helping blind people learn computer skills.

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