Volunteering for the holidays

This is cool. I actually need something to do with all my spare time. It's going to have to wait until after the holidays, though - or at least until this blizzard lets up.

Americans are some of the most giving people that I know. They give back to community by volunteering, fund raising and donating-attributes yet to be found in the emerging economies which are creating enormous bands of wealthy, selfish people who are obsessed with consuming and don't give back to the community at all. Really tragic for in these economies are huge swathes of people who live way below the poverty line.

@BraodwayBK I hear you. It's exactly around now that I most want something purposeful to do, but doesn't seem like any of the bog charities need help now. Somebody should start up a series of temp project for community improvement that are done around the holidays. I get the feeling a lot of people out there have extra time around now and don't always know what to do with it.

This is that time of year that we are all constantly reminded of people who need assistance, which is likely the reason why all the big charities would be brimming with volunteers?

I have been thinking about launching my own nonprofit, but now is exactly the time not to do so due to the economy.

@BroadwayBK Even nonprofits pay salaries to their employees. You can get a good non-profit funded by grants and such.

Also, it was especially striking how many donation requests I got in the last couple of weeks, with every nonprofit out there trying desperately to milk the holiday mood. Not that it's a bad strategy, but I wish there were at least one nonprofit that had asked me for my time specifically. I would have given that much more readily. Pity really. As I said above, I bet there's some extra time giving energy around the holidays that nonprofits aren't tapping into.

I would help in some way, but unfortunately, right now I can't. However, I am still helping people by way of my website.

@hhusted what website?

@Uptowngirl: I created a website to help people stop smoking. Right now I charge people to use the site, however, I am going to be changing things with it so as to make a lot of the content free for everyone. If you want to see it, the site is www.healyourlungs.com.

@Uraniumfish Well, yeah. It definitely helps to pay employees. Otherwise they are mere volunteers. :) I noticed the same thing about donation requests, but I can understand it. I'm sure when times are tough these organizations suffer just as much (or more) as the rest of us.

@hhusted interesting site, skimmed through it will go back and read more later

@Uptowngirl: Yeah, I changed it. You can access all articles, but to read the entire article, you have to pay for an e-book, which is low cost.