Volunteering: Contribution to the Community Essay -- Community Service

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens plunder change the world indeed, its the only thing that ever has.- Margaret MeadVolunteerism, in its abstr deed of conveyance form, includes the various(prenominal) or collective efforts of willing individuals, known as volunteers, to chip in ways which work toward the betterment of oneself, other individuals, communities, and/or society. This interpretation remains subjective in its ambiguity regarding the meaning of betterment, as easily as in the sense that the means to bettering oneself may be in direct opposition to the means necessary to better another individual or society. Despite the subjectivity of this definition, this general description of volunteerism is necessary for talk within the same framework and reference in this discussion.In our Christian language, we may prefer to call volunteering, serving. Service moves from mere physical motions to gracious action (Wuthnow 1991 45). Service incorpora tes all aspects of our humanity, instead of just the physical convey at hand. Love, justice, compassion, action, presence, and understanding embody the cultural framework of Christian service, to which this human action refers. Service goes a step further than volunteering ones free good afternoon to dish out food at a local dope up kitchen it sits down and eats with the homeless and shares in their experiences.The general volunteer expressive style in the United States is one in which an individual volunteers his/her time, services, or funds. As Newsweeks article Powells New War demonstrates, most Americans perceive volunteering as an act in which one must do something and nice gesture which has benefits. though this observation is a generalization, rarely do Americans view voluntee... ...l as in the method to accomplish it. One connection however, is their similar quest for creating a framework of support in which persons can feel valued and needed. The persuasion of accompan iment reflects a similar notion of the mentoring relationship found in Powells model of volunteerism. The difference, however is that mentors take on a parental role, maculation the goal of accompaniment is to stay away from any sign of paternalism. workings CitedAaker, Jerry. Partners With The Poor, New York Friendship Press, 1993. Alter, Jonathan. Powells New War. Newsweek 28 April 1997 27&SHY37. Chambers, Robert. agricultural Development Putting the Last First. New York John Wiley & Sons, 1983. Ohrt, Wallace. Accidental Missionaries. Downers Grove, Illinois InterVarsity Press, 1991. Wuthnow, Robert. Acts of Compassion. Princeton Princeton University Press, 1991.