Do Something: Volunteering

Volunteers are important to our society. Social causes, community events, and a vast variety of nonprofits rely on volunteers to get the word out, lead tours, tutor children, and feed the homeless. Nearly fifty percent of the US population volunteers, but this number could be higher. Some times, you are needed just for a few hours or you can join Americorps, Teach for America, or the Peace Corps.  Many of these opportunities appeal to twenty-somethings, but they are open to volunteers of all ages.  Recently I found a UK website called Gap Year for Grown Ups, that provides international volunteering opportunities for people a little further removed from their college years.

Chances to volunteer abound in your local area, even though they might be a little harder to find. The traditional method for getting involved in your community is to find a group or organization that you feel passionate about and knock on their door. Local libraries usually have a directory of local nonprofits and the librarians often know of area organizations looking for help. Websites have recently started helping to match up volunteers with the organizations that need them. I recently signed up with Volunteer Match, a search engine that lets you type in your city and it populates a list of opportunities in your area. Some of the needs don’t ring quite true–if you type in several cities and the same volunteer need comes up sponsored by the same organization, do some independent searching before you sign up. I quickly found volunteering needs with the Indianapolis Zoo and the Indiana Arthritis organization. 

Another similar service is Serve.gov. It searches Volunteer Match along with other sites like Craigslist for organizations looking for people. It also has quite a few more capabilities, but I haven’t had the chance to explore it thoroughly.

 So get out there and do something!

Social Capital

You know what capital is, right? It’s an investment. Typically people talk about money or investments in machinery, computers, or other peices of infrastructure when they refer to capital. Social capital is slightly different. It’s also an investment, but this time instead of money, you’re investing your time and energy in other people.

Everyone is born with some kind of social capital, for the simple reason that you have to have parents to be born. Your connection to them is a kind of capital, because you can depend on them to help you out when you need it. As you get older you meet people through school, activities, and clubs. You extend your network out a little more with every new person you befriend.

Why do we need these networks? There are a number of old adages, but the simple truth is that no human being can survive completely alone. We need people that we can talk to, who will help us when we’re wounded or feed us when we are hungry. The more we are willing to help others, the more they are willing to help us. Essentially you are building bonds, bringing your community closer together.

Robert Putnam is the primary scholar on social capital, and in his work Bowling Alone, he noted that Americans are not joining as many associations, clubs, groups, or teams as earlier generations (our grandparents and great grandparents) did.  As a whole, we are less likely to join a social organization, be a part of a bowling league, or get to know our neighbors. The isolationism isn’t healthy, and out social bonds loosen every day.

So do what you can to pay attention to your social capital. Take a look at your circle of friends. How many would be there if you really needed them? If the answer is only one or two, you’ve got some work to do. Get out there. Volunteer. Take some cookies over to your neighbors and introduce yourself (it’s okay if they’re not homemade). Join a church. We are not meant to spend our lives alone.