Volunteering is a unique thing. Not only does it help you gain experience out in the world, but it also gives you a chance to network, to be an active member of the community, and most importantly make other happy and appreciate the work that you're putting in.

Providing service to others is an act that brings happiness to others and will ultimately improve the quality of life in a community. Joining a fraternity has opened my eyes to providing services to the community. This is one great thing about being in a fraternity because as brothers, we are required to get service hours. This may seem like a chore, but the joy that you obtain from completing hours of volunteering is second to none. Not only does it benefit the community, but it also benefits you as well.

The most important thing is your well-being. Mental health is a common struggle in this world and volunteering is a method to make yourself happy because bringing joy to others is a natural way to boost your morale. There are many opportunities within each community to volunteer your time. I know we're all busy with life, but an hour here and there could make all the difference.

Now, what volunteer opportunities could be available in your area?

The local animal shelter is always looking for people to come in and help clean their facilities, walk dogs, play with the cats, and wash the dogs. The people that work in these establishments are always busy, and sometimes they don't have time for these simple tasks. Trust me; they appreciate any help they can get with the day-to-day tasks.

You can always volunteer to help clean up the town. This could include anything from picking up trash along the road, cleaning up a local park, and helping with some landscaping. These things are always an excellent opportunity to meet others in the community and help clean up the area to improve everyone’s quality of life.

If you're having issues finding ways to give your time to the community, there is this fantastic site called justserve.org. This site allows you to plug in your zip code and it will produce all the different kinds of community service opportunities within your area. This is a fantastic tool for those looking to give their time to give back to the community and ultimately give back to something that is bigger than yourself!

One thing to remember is that community service is not something that is a punishment. Yes, inmates and those that were given community service as a result of some jurisdiction, are given this as a penalty. But community service does not have to be a punishment. Community service is something great and is something that will not only benefit the community but you as well.