Volunteerism - an interesting "career" choice??

Growing up in the US, I was inspired at a young age that volunteering in schools, churches/temples, and local parks is essential to keeping the vibrancy of my community alive. My mom was very active in the PTA making sure I was in G.A.T.E. (gifted and talented education), took AP (advanced placement) courses, and advocated that music and art should be part of a child’s daily education. My dad coached Little League, brought neighbors together to help landscape each others yards, and when older offered free laughter yoga to seniors, youngsters and everyone in between.
Volunteerism isn’t just for Sunday afternoons. It can be a part time or full time career depending on where you decide to pitch in. Schools are the obvious place where parents can step in “after hours” tutoring, planning school events, coaching, and inspiring kids to be leaders. Rachel Carson said, “If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder….he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in.” Volunteering to mentor a child is a great way to keep that sense of wonder alive! Programs like Read With Me, Write With Me, Project Cornerstone, and fitness programs in the public schools are always looking for folks that can donate anywhere from 1 to 10 hours of time.
Parks are fantastic outdoor science labs to learn in and a wonderful way to teach children about the wonders of nature. Planting trees through city park planting groups, cleaning hiking trails, and cutting back brush to prevent forest fires are all ways you can participate. Along the way, you might discover a new bird or plant that you haven’t seen before. The Bay Area parks were indigenous to Ohlone Indians who left clues to their life throughout the land. A simple rock might lead you to the history of Almaden Quicksilver Park or might be an old time mortar and pestle that the Indians used for food. Being a docent not only helps to maintain the parks but reconnects you with nature in a zen kind of a way!
Food Pantries are always looking for folks to help sort food and prepare bags of bread for folks in need. Sacred Heart in San Jose has an online calendar for easy scheduling. You can even pitch in sorting clothes by sizes. Libraries are always looking for people to read to kids under age 6 and help build vocabulary skills in the newest of readers.
Volunteering is in Vogue! Googling volunteer opportunities in the Bay Area will help you find thousands of places where you can pitch in. So get out there and be your own creature of the night. Find your niche in volunteering and make a difference in someones life. You’ll be surprised to find they will make a difference in your life as well!

End Note: Manju Ramachandran is a Volunteer PTA President at Noble Elementary School, regular volunteer at a local food pantry and mother of 3. She moved out of high tech to make an impact in her community but was unprepared for how huge her volunteerism efforts have made on her personally.