Volunteering Tips

In this fast-paced world, it's surprising you have time to attend classes, do homework, take part in extracurricular activities, and still manage to spend time with family and friends. Yet, despite busy schedules, many young people like you are concerned about what's happening in their neighborhoods and communities, and are looking for ways to get involved. In a survey of nearly 1,000 young people commissioned by Prudential:

• 95 percent said they felt it's important for people to volunteer
• Almost two-thirds of those respondents said that individual responsibility is the best way to solve community problems
• 67 percent indicated that they devote some time to volunteer activities

Students are interested in serving their communities because they want to:

• Make a difference
• Develop new skills
• Prepare for college
• Explore career paths
• Have fun working with friends
• Feel good about themselves

Although the efforts of one person may seem small, every act of service can have an important impact on someone and millions of individual volunteers can create a revolution of sorts.

Whatever your reason for volunteering, once involved, it's easy to get hooked-to "catch the spirit" of community involvement. Volunteering can expand your horizons and become a satisfying, lifelong commitment.

Learn more about volunteering:

• What's Right for Me?
  Ask yourself the right questions to decide on the best project for you.
• Local Resources for Volunteer Ideas
  Turn to people in your local community for help finding volunteer ideas.
• Where to Volunteer
  Get project ideas by visiting the websites of organizations looking for volunteers.
• What Can a Volunteer Do?
  Read about volunteering opportunities in various fields.

The information on these pages is from a booklet titled "Catch the Spirit," produced by Prudential in cooperation with the Federal Citizen Information Center.

Federal Citizen Information Center
Catch the Spirit
Pueblo, CO 81009
1-888-8-PUEBLO
www.pueblo.gsa.gov