Volunteering

Volunteering is when you choose to help.

You give your time for free. Some people help after a big storm.

Others help people who are sick. Some people even help in schools. You can help the earth, too. You can help by using a computer. This is called virtual work. It is a great way to be kind.

Helping others makes the world better.

Volunteering is when people choose to give their time. They do not get paid for their work. People do this to help their community.

Many people have special skills. Some are doctors or teachers. Others help during big disasters. For example, people help after a flood or a hurricane.

In the past, volunteering changed a lot. During the American Civil War, women sewed supplies for soldiers. A woman named Clara Barton helped many people. She started the American Red Cross in 1881. In 1960, the United States started the Peace Corps.

Today, there are many ways to help. You can do virtual volunteering. This means you use a computer to help from home. You can also help the earth. This is called environmental volunteering. Some students do service-learning. They help others and learn new things at the same time. It is a great way to make a difference.

Volunteering is a special act where people choose to help others. They give their time and labor without being paid. Many people do this to serve their local community. Some volunteers have special training in jobs like medicine or teaching. Others help when a natural disaster happens, like a flood or an earthquake.

There are many different ways to be a volunteer today. Some people do skills-based volunteering by using their professional talents. This can be very helpful for non-profit groups. Other people try virtual volunteering, which is also called e-volunteering. These volunteers use the internet to work from a computer at home. They might edit Wikipedia or help with online tasks. You can even try micro-volunteering, which involves very small tasks on a device.

History shows us how volunteering has changed over many years. The word volunteer was first recorded in 1755. Long ago, it mostly described people joining the military. In the 1800s, people in America began helping those in need. During the American Civil War, women sewed supplies for soldiers. A leader named Clara Barton helped many people during this time. She founded the American Red Cross in 1881 to help during disasters.

In the 1900s, many new groups were started to help people. The Salvation Army is one of the oldest groups helping those in need. In the early 20th century, groups like the Lions Clubs International formed. During World War II, thousands of volunteers helped the military at home. In 1960, the United States started the Peace Corps. By 2012, about 64.5 million Americans were giving their time to help. This was worth about $175 billion in service.

Volunteering connects to many parts of our daily lives. Many schools have service-learning programs for their students. This lets students learn new things while they help their community. Some companies even let their workers volunteer during work hours. This is often called corporate volunteering. It helps the company and the people they serve. Whether helping the environment or a local school, volunteers make the world better.

Volunteering is an optional act where individuals or groups provide time and labor. This service is usually done for the benefit of a community. Most volunteers are not paid for their work. Some people use specialized training to help others. These experts might work in medicine, education, or emergency rescue. Other people provide help only when it is needed. This often happens during a natural disaster.

The word "volunteer" has a long history. It was first recorded in 1755. The term came from the noun "volunteer," which appeared in 1600. Back then, it described someone offering themselves for military service. The non-military meaning of the word appeared during the 1630s. In a military context, a volunteer army is made of soldiers who choose to enlist. This is different from a conscripted army where people are forced to serve. Even in the military, these volunteers receive regular pay.

During the 19th century, volunteering changed in America. People became more aware of those who were disadvantaged. This awareness helped fuel movements against slavery. In 1851, the first YMCA was started in the United States. The YWCA followed seven years later. During the American Civil War, women volunteered to sew supplies for soldiers. A woman named Clara Barton provided aid to servicemen. She was known as the "Angel of the Battlefield." Barton eventually founded the American Red Cross in 1881. She used volunteers to help victims of the Johnstown Flood in 1889.

The 20th century saw the rise of many formal organizations. The Salvation Army is one of the oldest groups helping disadvantaged people. In the early 1900s, groups like Rotary International and Lions Clubs International were founded. During World War II, thousands of volunteer offices managed people helping the military. These volunteers collected supplies and cared for the injured. After the war, people began volunteering overseas. In 1960, the United States created the Peace Corps. In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson declared a War on Poverty. This helped expand many volunteer opportunities.

Today, there are many specific types of volunteering. Service-learning programs allow students to earn educational credit through community service. This method combines academic study with real-world help. Skills-based volunteering uses a person's professional talents to help nonprofits. Traditional volunteering is valued at about $18 to $20 per hour. However, skills-based volunteering is valued at about $220 per hour. Virtual volunteering, or e-volunteering, happens online. These volunteers use computers or smartphones to work remotely. Micro-volunteering involves very small tasks done in short increments of time.

Volunteers are essential during emergencies and disasters. Disasters are events that test a community's ability to respond. This includes floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes. The 1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji earthquake in Japan brought in many first-time volunteers. The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami also drew worldwide help. During Hurricane Sandy in 2012, a group called Occupy Sandy used social media to help. They provided food, shelter, and reconstruction help.

Volunteering also plays a role in business and schools. Many schools rely on volunteers to help run effectively. This can include teaching English to foreign language students. In the business world, many companies have Employee Volunteering Programs. A majority of Fortune 500 companies allow employees to volunteer during work hours. About 40% of these companies also give monetary grants to nonprofits. This helps the company build a good reputation and keep employees happy.

The impact of volunteering is massive. In 2012, about 64.5 million Americans volunteered. This was roughly 26.5 percent of the adult population. These people gave 7.9 billion hours of service. The value of that work was approximately $175 billion. This averages out to about 125 to 150 hours per person each year. Similar patterns of volunteering have been seen in the United Kingdom. These numbers show how much people contribute to society.