National Volunteer Week (April 15-21): a Call to Action and a Great Reason to Celebrate

The act of volunteering is one of those tasks that often goes unnoticed and under appreciated. That is not to say that people don't generally feel thankful for those that volunteer their time and effort to just causes, organizations and programs, but it is not always obvious whether an individual is donating their time for free or getting paid to do what they do. No one, of course, is at fault for this, for the fact is true probably because in any type of business activity, that information is not only nobody else's business, but often times there is little opportunity to even come close to sharing these details. And while it is strongly agreed that any sort of apparent distinction between paid employees and volunteers is somewhat unnecessary to present to the general public, and/or customer database, there does seem to be an occasional time and place where the recognition of non-paid employees would prove extremely beneficial. For one, this information can be helpful in arousing customer trust if needed in certain industries, as the presence of courteous unpaid staff shows an interest in the company or organization in general that may be rather contagious. But perhaps the best reason for the use of volunteers to be exposed is the fact that they serve as a great example of individuals doing something for the primary concern of contributing to a good cause. And not only is that extremely admirable but it can be very inspiring. And since very few organizations would admit to having too many volunteers, the motivation of fresh, new bodies to dedicate their time to various programs and services is a justified need that our society currently has. Not to mention the very act of volunteering is rewarding to more than just the people or businesses served; it gives the person donating their time and efforts an unmatchable thrill of accomplishment and sense of self.