Before you volunteer for a certain agency, there are a few things you need to know about volunteering. First of all, the definition for volunteer is "one who enters into or offers himself (OR HERSELF) for a service of his (OR HER) own free will."
In other words, a volunteer is someone, male or female, who signs up with a certain agency to do a certain project or activity for others in the community, FOR FREE. Although you get no dough for what you did, there is still one thing you get: satisfaction for the good and wonderful deed(s) you did for others and your or someone else's community.
Even though most of the benefits of volunteering were mentioned, you might still be thinking, 'Well, why should I volunteer and get involved in my community?' Here are more great reasons you should volunteer:
* A chance to hang out with one or some of your friends, or to make new
ones
* To learn job skills, leadership skills, and to gain experience
* To have something to do in the summer or with your free time
* To explore future career options
* It's the BOMB!
Do I have your attention? If so, you are probably ready to begin looking for and selecting the right volunteer
job.
Follow this checklist to help you find a volunteer job that will benefit you the most.
___Take the personality inventory.
It will help you decide what job will be best for YOU.
___Discuss your interest in volunteering with your parents or guardians, and make sure it fits both their schedule and your schedule, and that its okay with them for you to volunteer. You should do this because when you have to fill out an application to volunteer with an agency, most of them require a signature from a parent or legal guardian.
___Set up an interview with the agency(s) you are interested in, either over the phone or in person. Don't be afraid to ask questions about their programs. If you still need help finding a volunteer job, contact the United Way of King County Volunteer Center's Youth Connection at (206)-461-3655.
GOOD LUCK!