Why I love volunteering

Picture these scenarios:

?It's a busy day at work. Conversations are running in circles, decisions are changing, the pressure of deadlines are building, communication has been frustrating. And then the lunch-hour hits and it's your day to deliver meals on wheels for an hour. You pick up the hot food carrier and place it in your trunk. Your first delivery is to a 90-year old woman who lives alone in a humble dwelling. She lights up when she sees you, not just because of the food but because you're the only person she'll see all day. She asks to give you a hug because she hasn't had one in a while. You share a smile and a little conversation and she says you've made her day. You have five more deliveries with similar interactions. When you return to work, you are revitalized, humbled and with a refreshed perspective. The rest of the day seems to go much more smoothly.?

You work for a healthcare company, on the administrative side, far removed from the nurses and doctors who tend to the patients you serve. You finish work hours before daycare closes, so you're able to find time to volunteer at the hospital. While you're visiting a patient, you see the care that a nurse provides them. The nurse brings the patient a blanket fresh out of the dryer and tucks them in. They make jokes and you see the joy and safety in the patient's eyes. You return to your desk the next day knowing that what your company does is bettering your community on a physical and emotional level. You start taking more pride in each PowerPoint slide and email you send.

?It’s a Saturday night and your kid(s) are driving you crazy and you just want a break. Instead of taking time for yourself, you volunteer at a children's shelter banquet. The family who’s preparing the meal has adopted 11 children who are helping them cook. You see the pride in the parents faces as they teach their children how to serve and how to work together as a family. You suddenly can’t wait for when your kids are able to join you and do events like these together. When you get home, you hug your kid(s) extra tight and know how lucky you are to have each other.

?It's Thanksgiving morning. Family has flown and drove in from all over and they crowd the kitchen. You're stressed trying to prepare the turkey (or tofurky), and while you love family, in some ways you can't wait for the holiday to end. But this year is different, your cousin arranged for the family to prepare Thanksgiving meals for families in need. You take a break from your kitchen and find yourself in an assembly line traying up food. You see the smiles on your family's faces as everyone is enjoying each other's company, bonding as they serve. When you go back home to take your turkey (tofurky) out of the oven, you feel so grateful to be able to spend this special holiday together and blessed to have the means and space to host them.?

You're standing in a room full of strangers at a fundraising gala. Bidders are battling each other and the amount is surpassing $20,000. The passion in their bids stems from a desire not for the prize but to help a stranger be able to pay for their cancer treatment. You begin to adapt a kinder, caring view of the world.

You've just moved to Los Angeles and don't know anyone. You've transferred volunteer committees and the volunteer manager meets you to tour your new neighborhood together. Suddenly you feel more at home. Then, the pandemic hits. You're on lockdown alone. But this committee keeps you afloat. You're able to find ways to fundraise together and exceed targets. You realize that each person on the committee is in the same position as you. You start to feel less alone and you have people and a goal you look forward to meeting.

Imagine setting this example for your children, and then they grow up to be stewards of their community.

Volunteering is in my ancestry and by serving my community, I have a chance to serve people and my ancestors. My parents, grandparents and great grandparents each volunteer(ed) with passion. My great grandma volunteered in hospice while raising four children. My great aunt moved to the Philippines and devoted her life to spreading the word of the Bible. If you'd ask my parents why they volunteer, they would say it's simply in their DNA.

Serving our community gives us a chance to step away from our lives and experience another reality. It's an opportunity to serve, to be inspired and to connect. The meaning of life begins to shift and those frantic moments become moments you cherish, fully present, in a state of pure gratitude.