Volunteerism

I'm no Mother Teresa. I am far from holy, but I recognized a long time ago that there's nothing wrong with the world, it's the people in it that have a problem. I can whine all I want about how messed up the Boston Marathon bombing was or how the government is too slow figuring out the solution to our gun problems. But I just think it would be a shame to waste my talents on complaining. So, I choose to be part of the solution; even if the only way I could help is to spend some time helping someone else.

I'm not really sure when my love affair with volunteering started, but I know that for me there's something more that I could be doing and I can't just sit around and watch society crumble. I also know that volunteering isn't for everyone. I think it is something you should only do when you know in your heart that its for you. You can't do it out of obligation or because you know you should. It has to come from your heart to be of benefit. If you volunteer for the wrong reasons you are just making more problems not solving them.

My goal has always been simple -- I want to help someone! That's it, nothing more.

I don't expect to change lives, and to say that I want to change the world would be too melodramatic, and frankly a very exhausting and lofty goal. So, all I want to do is help someone. And if there is even the most minute chance that I inspire someone to pay it forward -- to realize that they could help too, then I would call that a glorious success! At present, these are the causes I am giving my time to:

• ESL Educator, Evergreen Community College

Participate in a federally funded program to provide English as Second Language (ESL) courses for Syrian refugees in the bay area.

• United Nations Volunteer Programme, Communication support to the United Nations Information Centre

Create content and manage social media accounts of the UN Information Center in Manama, Bahrain. The aim is to reach target audiences with relevant messages on the work of the UN in the region, and to promote UN priorities for global campaigns.

• Docent, Monterey Bay Aquarium

Assist in the education and provide information to patrons on the effects of climate change in our oceans and what we can do to mitigate and eliminate the impacts.

Other places I believe in, where I participated from time to time, include:

• American Diabetes Association: I have several family members who suffer from Diabetes.

• National Multiple Sclerosis Society: My sister developed pregnancy on-set of Multiple Sclerosis.

• National Kidney Foundation: My cousin required a kidney transfer and I learned much about the need and the process.

• American Heart Association: I have many relatives that suffer from heart disease and the ramifications it has on our lives.

• Learning Ally: My son and husband have dyslexia where they needed the services of this organization.