Shelby P. Hamlett International President of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC), one of the world’s oldest and largest women’s volunteer community service organizations. (NAPSA)—Throughoutits history, the United States has relied on a corps of committed citizens to work on behalf of children, education reform, conservation and a score of other issues. Volunteers are always needed to do the many jobs that cannot be handled by state and local agencies alone. Since September 11, 2001, that need has becomegreater than ever. Have the tragedies at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania made you stop and think about what you could do to help? In my current position with an organization whose members have been performing volunteer community service since shortly after it was founded 112 years ago, I know a great deal about people who share a passion for and commitment to helping others. They are folks who donate time and effort in service to their communities and manage to do so despite jobs, families, school and other time-consumingactivities. Just as joggers and bikers feel better after a strenuous workout, volunteers feel better when they help people. Volunteeringis a part of their everydaylives. If you are wondering whether there are projects that might interest you, I can assure you there are. As I travel around the country, I hear about scores of activities being performed by men, women and children on behalf of those touched by the recent tragedy. These include: holding a series of multi-family yard sales and sending proceeds to the wid- Volunteers feel better when they help people and there are many opportunities to do so. ows and orphans of New York and Washington D.C. police andfirefighters; arranging school band and chorus concerts that raise funds for pets who have lost owners; collecting audio and video tapes for victims undergoing lengthy recoveries. You might want to start similar volunteer efforts with friends, local school children or a group of seniors. Or you could join one of the dozens of established community service organizations whose projects would welcome another pair of helping hands. After 40 years of being involved in women’s clubs, I can tell you that they offer volunteers countless advantages. Through an established organization like GFWC, you get educational and leadership training, excellent tools and resources, networking opportunities and a chance to make newfriends. If this appeals to you, visit our Web site at www.gfwe.org or call 1-800-443GFWCfor a brochure.
