The definition of volunteer is: 1) A person who actively takes on a task, responsibility or project on his or her own accord without needing to be assigned, ordered or told to do so. Often a volunteer is not paid for the work they provide. For example, a volunteer may desire to work at a company’s charitable events with or without pay and may even request to do so without being asked or told to. 2) Act of taking the initiative on a task, responsibility or project. This could be as a response to a request or by taking the initiative to do so. For example, a group can volunteer to research an issue as a response to a request.

When you volunteer your time to a charity or an altruistic activity, your self-worth and self-respect improve dramatically. Volunteering just plain feels good. Feeling down? Volunteer.

There are all kinds of things you can do. Come help us build a trail. Or offer your help to a hospital, a nursing home or the Scouts. Churches often need help. The Boys and Girls Club loves volunteers. The SCV Senior Center is another great place to start. You might consider canvassing your neighborhood to collect canned food for the SCV Food Pantry. Nearly every nonprofit will welcome your helping hands.

You could take a CERT class with the city and help out in a disaster in the future, or even join the Peace Corps and travel the world as a volunteer. The American Red Cross is always looking for volunteers, and another organization that is great for young people is Big Brothers-Big Sisters.

There are also ways to volunteer where you don’t even have to leave your home or office. There are lots of opportunities typing data for nonprofits on your own computer. This is another great way to get experience, and you’ll have something else to put on your resume.

Volunteering is a great way to spend your summer vacation. Volunteering can teach you skills that might help you out in a job someday. You might even make contacts that will lead to a job.

Young adults in high school and college may be involved in a “service learning” program. These students volunteer for various projects in and around their city and earn credit for their service.

The Community Hiking Club, my organization, has benefitted greatly by these programs. These students have tended the native garden at the base of East Canyon, they have worked on the Dagger Flat Trail in the Angeles National Forest, removed non-native invasive plants, and they have tirelessly worked to remove micro-trash from the forest near condor nesting sites to keep the condors and their chicks safe. Volunteers help us to achieve our mission, and keep costs down, which is so important these days when grants are so difficult to find.

Give some thought to the type of company you would like to help. Where do you want to go in life? Perhaps you want to be a nurse or doctor. A hospital or nursing home might be the perfect place for you to get some experience. Maybe you’re interested in the environment; there are plenty of eco-companies that do things like restoration of habitat, non-native removals in rivers and clean ups. If you like kids, maybe a grammar school, nursery school or after-school care center might interest you.

There is no end to places where you can volunteer. Make a list of the things you might enjoy, and use the Internet to search for nonprofits that would be perfect fit for you.

If you work for a large corporation, talk to HR. It is possible your company will allow you to volunteer during work hours and still get paid. Most of the Fortune 500 companies allow their employees several days per year to volunteer.

If you volunteer just one day a month, your life will have a greater sense of accomplishment, of purpose, and it will definitely make you more connected to your community. Duke University discovered there is a huge correlation between social well-being and being a volunteer.

The bottom line is that society reveres people who help other people. And the people who help other people are happier, well-adjusted, proud people who have a great outlook on life.

So, give a little time to being a volunteer. It’s time to give back. I firmly believe volunteers can change the world. Be part of that change.

To volunteer with the Community Hiking Club, email zuliebear@aol.com.

Dianne Erskine-Hellrigel is executive director of the Community Hiking Club and president of the Santa Clara River Watershed Conservancy. Contact Dianne through communityhikingclub.org or at zuliebear@aol.com.