'There is more to volunteering than just doing unpaid work' Discuss - Essay Example

iduals who stand up to volunteer are themselves members of the community, and eventually derive a benefit which, although not financial, extends to them in some way along with the to rest of society. In the Unites States, for example, it has been estimated that services provided by volunteering teenagers contribute more than 34 billion dollars to the U.S. economy (Gay, 2004, p. 2). Alcock (2004, p 4) shows that charitable and voluntary action were considered essential components of the welfare state by the Government, as long ago as 1909.

People volunteer for many different reasons. The most obvious reason is to give back to society - volunteering seems tied to the concept of moral duty to help with a good cause. However, the time, resources and efforts spent on volunteering are often significant, and altruism alone is not the only motivating force for a person willing to work for a cause without financial gain. Volunteering can involve rewards other than financial, and people choose to volunteer for many different reasons. For example, volunteering can include activities or consequences that have significant value in the person’s life.

A person who is attached to animals may volunteer at a shelter for stray cats. For this person, the emotional satisfaction gained by tending to the animals, ensuring their care and safety, would have more significance the same time spent working and earning a few extra dollars. For many volunteers, this activity is the best means for them to socialize with people of similar interests. For example, Oxfam used young volunteers interested in music to recruit local young musicians and raise money for charity through concerts – the activity gave the volunteers a channel to put their passion for music to a good cause (Mahony, 2007).

Volunteering is in some cases, very inherently associated with financial gains. A student hoping to land a job at a particular firm would, for example, choose to volunteer and spend his spare time