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Volunteer, please!

Andrew Cameron, Co Editor-in-chief
Published: November 17, 2009

At 6:55 p.m., a woman visits the Starbucks’ kiosk inside of Safeway to order a decaf coffee after 10 hours of sitting outside. In one hand she has her black mini shopping cart where she keeps her lunch and her jacket. In the other, she has a medium size Tupperware full of receipts she has collected during the day. For the last three years this is what Sue Hultberg has done on each fall evening.

Every year, during October and November, Safeway gives 10 percent back to schools by displaying numbers on the customer’s receipts. Hutberg asks costumers if she can cut the number off the receipt. Hultberg is a volunteer at Brain Injury Network, a non-profit organization that helps people who have suffered a serious head injuries.

She doesn’t receive payment for her efforts, only the gratification of knowing she brings hope to adults and kids who rely on the network for a full recovery. Hultberg has generated more than $1,000 this year alone in people receipts. Hultberg is just one of thousands of volunteers in Santa Rosa who spend their time doing volunteer work.

Community service jobs do not pay well. Most times when people work for a charity or a non-profit organization, it’s for the rewarding experience. There are people who devote their entire life to helping out those in need.

Celebrities have been praised for their contributions to a charity or volunteer work. However, let’s not look past those who do not have large bank accounts and are only able to serve by volunteering their spare time. Those people receive little if any praise for their efforts. Everyone should volunteer in his or her community. There are many opportunities to help out from serving a meal at a soup kitchen to helping out at an animal shelter.

If people set aside some of their extra time to volunteer it could affect someone’s life in a positive way. There are many benefits to volunteering: meeting new people, developing a new skill and self-fulfillment.

As SRJC students there are many possibilities to help out. On campus three clubs that offer opportunities for students to get involved: Acquired Brain Injury Students, Alpha Gamma Sigma and Shone Farm Club. For more information go to http://www.santarosa.edu/for_students/clubs_ and_organizations/.

Sonoma County Volunteer Center is always looking for volunteers. They do a wide range of work from tutoring at schools to hosting fundraisers. The United Way has an office in Santa Rosa, and is a non-profit organization that consists of several sub-organizations like American Red Cross, Big Brothers Big Sisters and YMCA.

St. Joseph Health System of Sonoma County welcomes volunteers. Volunteer jobs span from working directly with patients to a gift shop cashier. Additional information is on its web site at http:// www.santarosamemorial.org/foundation_ ways_volunteer.aspx.

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