Volunteering During the Holidays - Things to Keep in Mind

Hey everyone! Jackie here. It's been awhile since I've posted a blog entry. Life has been very busy for me lately, but I'm very thankful for the opportunity to be able to take time out to talk to you.

As we come upon the Christmas season, it is so easy to get caught up in what I like to call the "hype" of the holidays. Right after Thanksgiving, and even before then, stores put out their holiday decorations, the commercials on T.V. start talking about all the great new gadgets, and we start stressing about what we're going to give everyone on our Christmas list. Through all this, let us not forget the real reason why we celebrate this holiday in the first place. It's a cliche we've heard since Kirk Franklin released his first Christmas album, but Jesus really is the reason for the season! Christmas is the time we've set aside to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ--the one who died for all our sins, so that we might not have to pay the price for our own wrongdoing. That's the best gift you could ever receive!

"For God so loved the world that he gave His only Son that whosoever believes in Him, shall not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

God's love is what we really should celebrate during this time of the year, rather than Target gift cards, iPhones, and Nintendo Wii's. There is absolutely nothing we can do to repay God for the gift of His son, but we are able to show Him our gratitude in many ways. The opportunity to show love toward others arises everyday--it's a natural part of being a Christian. However, sometimes it's okay to go out-of-our-way to show love toward others. I don't have much money to give, but I can give of my time and abilities.

Have you thought about volunteering lately? I have. Recently I've been reminded of this particular act of service a few times. So, I've decided that this season isn't going to pass by without me volunteering somewhere. Volunteering helps remind me of how blessed I am; and more important, that Jesus is the reason for the season!

Things to Keep in Mind Before Volunteering

• Unless it’s an out-of-town mission trip, a competitive event (i.e., charity marathon, walk), or in a hospital setting, there should be no reason for you to have to pay a fee of any kind to volunteer. Beware if you have to pay a “registration fee,” pay for a booklet or any other potential scams that might be out there to take your money.

• Always let your parents know where you’re thinking of volunteering, so you can visit the organization together, do research online, and ask others about their experiences.

• Stay safe. It’s always a good practice to volunteer with other people rather than being alone in an unfamiliar environment. Never put yourself into dangerous situations.

• If it doesn’t feel right, don’t force it. Go with your gut. If you have a bad feeling about a particular organization, or don’t feel right about something, don’t do it.

• If you’re participating in a cleanup project, don’t handle or touch anything that might be potentially dangerous to you. (i.e., broken glass, drugs, guns, needles, etc.)

• You may not have to look far to find a volunteer opportunity. Your school or local church may already have some age-appropriate community service activities and partnerships already setup.

• Keep in mind there are often age restrictions on certain types of volunteer opportunities, so make sure to let the organization know what grade you are in, and see if the organization’s leaders can work with your parents to find age appropriate work.