Over the last two years, I have discovered that one of my favorite things to do is to volunteer. I have always enjoyed the outcome of serving others from my heart. Currently, I am volunteering at Cabrini Immigrant Services – NYC. I help with the packaging of food and the distribution of the food to the clients the following day. Like David, who says in Psalm 34:8, “taste and see the goodness of the Lord,” there is always goodness in serving others in the Lord. Having tasted this goodness, I would encourage others to give volunteering a try.

Here are four reasons that keeps the helping spirit moving within me:

1. Volunteering is an opportunity for gaining experience and skills.
By volunteering, I gain valuable skills and experience which are likely to be useful in the future, such as working as part of a team.

2. Meeting with new people and getting outside of a comfort zone.
One of the best things about volunteering is meeting with other volunteers! I enjoy their company as we work together. Volunteers are likely to be very interesting and inspiring and they might just turn out to be great friends too.

3. Volunteering paves the way of gaining confidence in oneself.
At times, I tend to be a shy person especially in a new environment, however, my volunteer experience has helped me gain confidence in talking to new people and even in front of a crowd!

4. Experiencing fun and enthusiasm for the cause
Knowing that I am doing something for a good cause has brought me joy. I try to bring enthusiasm in all that I do.

These are just a few of the many reasons why I suggest that you look for volunteering opportunities in your local town or city. There are many different causes with which you can become involved. If you like, you can start with something small and who knows what it will lead to! The most important thing to remember is that as well as helping others, you can get a great deal out of it, too!