Rock the World! Volunteer.

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Rock the World! Volunteer.

Do something different and volunteer! It's a great way to give back to your community, to meet new people, and fill a need all at the same time. Read about Brittany, Justin and Trevor and how their simple actions brought about change. Take our Volunteer Interest Survey to find out how your interests match with volunteer opportunities already available

In This Section

BRITTANY

Brittany has always liked animals. She heard about an organization that takes care of wild animals that have been orphaned or injured. People bring squirrels that have been attacked by dogs or birds that fell out of a nest to this center to be rehabilitated. After the animals have healed, they are released. There were all kinds of animals that needed care and rehab: rabbits, skunks, raccoons, a beaver, lots of squirrels and even a baby coyote. Brittany helped a volunteer veterinarian wire back together the shell of a turtle that was hit by a car. She also goes around talking to groups of people about the needs of wildlife. On these trips, she brings along Patsy, an orphaned possum who is too dependent to release, and Oscar, a box turtle who is not native to the region and also can't be released. The center is trying to expand, and Brittany is setting aside some of her own earning from a part-time job to contribute.

TREVOR

Trevor was recruited to volunteering by his brother, Mike. Mike knew a lot about computers and someone asked him if he would be willing to help fix up an old, donated computer for use in a program that provided after-school tutoring to kids. Mike wanted Trevor to come help so he'd have company and someone to assist him. Although Trevor didn't know much about computers to start with, Mike showed him how to take one apart, check the parts, and make repairs. Sometimes they would have to buy some tools or parts, and they just paid for it out of pocket, as their donation to the project. Between the two of them they have fixed over twenty computers. Trevor decided that he liked computers so much he's planning to make a career out of it.

JUSTIN

Justin plays the violin beautifully. He played with the Youth Symphony for a number of years (and also donated money to them) and was encouraged to become a concert violinist, though he eventually decided not to. He heard how some musicians were playing in hospitals to comfort sick patients, and the idea appealed to him. He arranged to visit the intensive care nursery for sick babies at the county hospital. The babies were in glass-sided incubators all hooked up to wires, often recovering from surgery. Some of the premature babies were scarcely bigger than his hand. Justin sat near then playing pieces he thought they would enjoy on the violin. The nursing staff appreciated it too.