Articles

Not a lot of people would describe volunteer work as "a kick in the pants," but for Missy Ford, that's exactly what it was. After this semiretired publishing executive's husband passed on, she decided to move back to her native California to be near family.

I started volunteering to coach a Pop Warner football team when my uncle asked me to get involved. Pop Warner is a nonprofit organisation that gives young people the opportunity to be active in football, dancing, and cheerleading, among other activities, in an organized league.

Amy Meyers might be what most people think of as the typical volunteer. A stay-at-home mother of two, Meyers helps out in her children's classrooms, is active in the local Parent-Teacher Organization, pitches in at the public library and at church, and serves on the board of her small New Hampshire town's Village Improvement Society—where she organizes a public reading of the Declaration of Independence every Fourth of July.

Statistically speaking, Paul Worthington is a rarity. As a single man with no children and a thriving real estate business, Worthington fits the profile of those Americans least likely to have an active life as a volunteer.

When my department at work was phased out several years ago, I knew I needed to find a way to fill my time. At that point, I didn't want to get another full-time job.

Not interested in being a volunteer? Perhaps it's just a matter of terminology. A lot of people who don't find the idea of community service appealing change their minds when they learn it can encompass a host of different activities.

Call it what you will —helping out, pitching in, community involvement, working for your church, volunteering. There's a quiet revolution going on.

The head hooker came to Bible study for the first time last week. I was startled to see this woman who more than once had tested the limits of my heart.

What Two Words might best characterize the members of the Christian Science Society in Cotonou, Benin? Fearless givers. Fearless givers dedicated to responding to their community's search for spirituality.

Last Summer, I went to a camp for Christian Scientists in Colorado. One day, while I was jumping on the trampoline, I twisted my ankle badly.