Working Through Guilt by Volunteering

We all have those commercials that we just won’t watch. It might be the starving children in Africa or the poor little pooches and kitties locked behind bars at the animal shelter, but we avert our eyes for the same reason. We feel guilt and sadness. We feel guilty that this is going on and we’re not doing anything about it. We feel sad because we know it doesn’t have to be this way. One person can’t solve all the world’s problems, but she can certainly change one life for the better.

That’s why I’m a big fan of volunteering instead of donating money. Whether you volunteer to foster an animal, become a Big Brother or Sister or get on a plane and go to Africa to help the children, you know exactly where your efforts are going. When you donate, you usually don’t. When you work hard for your money (as most of us do), you want to know that it's going to good use. Whether you're an entry level administrative assistant or a hot shot lawyer, money is probably something you place a large value on. Time is also valuable, and that's exactly why it's so great to see the benefits of your work with your own eyes.

I’m not saying that you shouldn’t donate. I’m just saying that volunteering is what works better for me. It makes me feel like I’m pitching in to make a difference.

There are some charitable organizations that obviously welcome volunteers (animal shelters, Meals on Wheels, Big Brothers Big Sisters, etc.), but really almost any organization relies on volunteers at one point or another. You can volunteer to help run one of the many local events for the American Cancer Society or you can collect donations at an MS Walk. I would suggest choosing an organization first, and then contacting them to see how you can use some of your free time to help the cause. If that isn’t an option for you or if you can’t think of an organization that means something to you, you can always do a basic search on Volunteer Match’s website. Here you can browse through the available opportunities and find one that matches your interests and values.