AmeriCorps Week: Why should I volunteer?

Many non-profit organizations would not exist without their volunteers. Volunteers are essentially the backbone of many organizations. Ulster County Habitat for Humanity, where I am currently serving, was founded in 1996 by a group of volunteers who identified the need for better housing in the area and decided to take action. Now, twenty years later, we have just closed on our twelfth home and are preparing to close on our thirteenth in less than two months. These homes solved an important problem for the families who now own them....the problem being a need for decent, affordable housing.

I have been volunteering in one way or another almost my entire life. My whole family volunteers in various ways and so growing up, volunteering was just a part of life. There was no question about it, volunteering was just something we did.

I encourage everyone out there reading this to find your volunteering niche. I found a great website that will lay out for you why you should volunteer. Click here to find out!