Volunteering is Becoming a Thing of the Past

One of life's most rewarding activities, volunteering, has become a thing of the past. People say they don't have the time. They use the excuse that they are just too busy with their jobs or their kids.

Young people do not volunteer as their parents once did. What has changed so much that we are too busy to give a little time to others? Have we as a nation become so self centered, that we can't donate a little of our time?

I recently attended the Arkansas Cattlemen's Association annual convention. I had opportunity to visit with a few people who have been in this association for decades. These people confirmed that the number of members has decreased each year. Attendance to this event has also decreased. In our conversation, we related to each other how few people we have in our local organizations also.

When we have are local cattlemen's meeting, only twelve to twenty members of approximately one hundred forty members will attend.

My husband and I belong to the local Lions Club. We are in our forties and we are the youngest couple in the club. Everyone else is over age fifty-five. There are approximately sixteen members in this club.

My husband is a volunteer firefighter for our fire department. There are approximately twelve firefighters and first responders out of approximately six hundred members. These twelve and their families perform most of the duties for the fundraisers to support the department.

When the kids were younger, we took them to many of our volunteer events. They picked up trash along the roadside. They helped set up tables and chairs for fundraisers. They watched us prepare for and work at volunteer events. I hope this example that we set for the kids will give them some will to volunteer, as they get older.

If people would try to help with an event at least once a year, it would help to keep good organizations running. These people would also get to experience a satisfied feeling of doing something good for others without expecting something in return.