The New Rules of Volunteering
DoSomething member Delayla Nguyễn breaks down the special ways she volunteers in her community
When it comes to volunteering in your community, it’s important to know that it CAN be fun and it CAN be unique to you!
“The New Volunteers” is a way for the next generation of volunteers to service their communities in ways that are out of the box, special to them, or just new in general. That’s why we here each month at DoSomething, carefully review submissions from volunteers who have shown exceptional dedication and leadership. We look for entries that stand out with thoughtful captions and impressive impact because we STAN seeing the positive changes you make.
Take Delayla Nguyễn who participated in a couple of our volunteer actions that had us crowning her Volunteer of the Month for September.
What was the Strength Through Service action that you connected with?
The Strength Through Service action that I connected the most to was donating stuffed animals. I truly enjoyed giving something that I loved so dearly to someone else who will love them just as much.
What inspired you to begin volunteering? What were you seeing in your community that made you want to volunteer?
I have always been active in volunteering but I had never actually gained anything from it. I realized that not only could I continue volunteering and helping my community but I could also gain recognition as a bonus!
Did you initially know how you wanted to give back to your community? And if not, how did you search for ways to volunteer?
I don’t usually know exactly what I want to do to give back to my community. I look around and assess what I have to offer along with my availability to do more physical work. By doing so, I can find what’s the best for me and work hard to complete the volunteer task that I had decided on!
How did watching “The New Volunteers” encourage you while completing your volunteering action within your community? Is there anything that stood out to you while watching the series?
“The New Volunteers” helped me realize just how much there is out there for me to do to give back to my community. The fact that there is a sense of creativity involved in volunteering is something that stood out to me!
What advice would you give to people your age about wanting to start their volunteering journey?
I would like to say that you should always show enthusiasm along with finding something that you enjoy to connect to your volunteer work! It really helps when you actually have fun with giving back to your community.
You can become a Volunteer of the Month, but first, we’re gonna need some receipts! Take action today and find a volunteer action that you want to service in your community, or make your own.
Make a difference in your community and add your vision to the future of our democracy