Can you read a book to a young child, plant a tree, paint a wall?

If you can, then you can be a VOLUNTEER. A volunteer is a person who gives time freely to do tasks that help individual people or whole communities. A volunteer can make a huge difference in the life or lives of people in need. A volunteer can be a child or an adult. A volunteer can help individually or in a team setting, such as a church group, a scout group or a company group.

Tracy Gibbs Sullivan and Meredith Bode both work at United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona. Tracy is Volunteer Center Manager and Meredith is Manager of Events. They have just completed being a part of the Days of Caring run by United Way that happens every fall. This is a period when United Way “helps non profits, schools and child care centers by getting volunteers to help with projects.” For example, volunteers age 12 and older painted the playground at Rattlesnake Ridge Elementary School in Marana during Days of Caring. Days of Caring was started sixteen years ago by IBM. Each year it has grown more successful.

Volunteering can be a one day commitment or a year round commitment. Not only does it help the individual you are working with or the community you volunteer in, but it also enriches and enhances the life of the volunteer. By volunteering to do a particular job, not only will you have an enjoyable time but you may also acquire new skills, have valuable experiences, and make new friends, all leading to your own personal growth. When you see what you have done to help a person or community, you will surely be proud of yourself.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer with United Way or if you want to learn more about this very important subject, go to UnitedWayTucson.org.