Are Volunteers Useless?

“We are volunteers – unpaid. Not because we are worthless but because we are priceless”. These simple words made me think about a question – what would happen if all of them suddenly decided to stop volunteering? In other words, nobody attended to care poor and needy people, speak and spend time with old age and children homes,  not being a scribe for blinds  and the countless other tasks they do? The answer leads to two possibilities; either the park would deteriorate quite significantly, or two, against the odds, if the work continued then it would be contracted out which would inevitably lead to financial cuts elsewhere. Seen this way the logic of the note makes absolute sense as the priceless work volunteers do improves the lives of others without squeezing already tight budgets.

The answer, of course, is that these are not the yard-sticks by which volunteers judge their contribution of time.  I often speak to volunteers who tell me about the personal level of satisfaction they gain from doing something for others without a financial transaction and how that gives them a sense of worth that money cannot buy and they volunteer because they enjoy spending time with people from different walks of life and listening to their experiences. 

Thank you Sameer Hasan & to whole share a smile team for recognising such people who are really priceless..