Menifee Mom: There's Always a Way to Perform Service

By Karen Thomas

"The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well."
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

I love this quote about giving service to others. I think that sometimes we tend to get so caught up with the busyness of our own lives (and sometimes our own wants, like the latest and greatest phone), we forget to look around and see the needs of others.

For years, I've been hearing about how kids in high school need to get community service hours completed. It looks good on a college application and the students can actually earn elective credits for completing a certain number of hours of approved community service. But most importantly, teenagers who engage in community service activities become more responsible, well-rounded individuals.

Not only is giving service to others a great way to improve the communities we live in, but it makes you feel good and it can be a lot of fun. Most of the community service I've done over the past several years has been related to my kids: Volunteering in the classroom, PTA, painting soccer fields, coaching, refereeing, etc.

I love knowing that I am doing something that not only benefits my kids, but all the other kids around them too! The more caring adults a child encounters, the better off they will be. Those kids remember you, too. It is so fun to see kids around town that I've worked with and have them say, "Hello."

If you don't have kids, it can be difficult to know how to find organizations that need your help. However, just last week I learned about the website www.justserve.org, which was created to connect people with service opportunities within their community. Anyone can go to the website, type in their location, and bring up a list of organizations close by that need volunteers. You can even create an account on the website and sign up for the opportunities you are interested in.

Mother Teresa, one individual who seems to epitomize service, said, "Love is not patronizing and charity isn't about pity, it is about love. Charity and love are the same -- with charity you give love, so don't just give money but reach out your hand instead."

Donating money to a cause is great, but even better is giving of your time to help. Often helping hands are the greatest need there is and can do the greatest good.

She also said, "Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you." Even small acts of service, like opening a door or returning a grocery cart for the elderly or a mom with young children, can make a big difference in someone's day and can improve the atmosphere in our community.

So look around you. Find opportunities to do some good for someone else. Involve your kids whenever you can. It will help your own burdens seem lighter and will be a good experience for everyone.

Karen Thomas is a stay at home mom of four daughters, has been on the PTA board at her kids' school for four years, and is a volunteer at her church, in addition to her activities as a volunteer soccer referee, a piano teacher, and a runner. Her column will appear here every other week. Comments are welcome.