Community
service is defined on the web site http://dictionary.com, as services
volunteered by individuals or an organization to benefit a community or its
institutions. This means everything from being on a local town board and
partaking in the local democratic government to donating ones time at various
locations around your town. These deeds are done without compensation and out
of general thought and care for the community.
These
un-selfish acts serve to better the town by adding to it in a kind and softhearted
way. A great example of this would be by helping out with underprivileged or
needy kids within your town through organizations like the big brother, big sister
program. Without the community service put fourth by members of organizations
like these, the kids would never receive the care that they deserve. Surely it
would be wonderful if funds could be appropriated to insure that the needs of
kids are meet. However we all know that these days money does not grow on
tress. Volunteers such as these add a personal touch to the community.
Community service such as this brightens the day of everyone and makes the
community a better place to live.
When
funds within the town are low and money cannot make it to everywhere that it
need be, community service makes sure that all the needs of the town are
meet. Again in a perfect
world there would be ample amount of funds to always have
the town operating at its full capacity. When jobs have to be cut and services
changed, people within the community come together and make sure that it all
gets done. It might mean volunteering a couple hours of your time at a town
owned building such as a library or a school. If you're a town employee it
might mean having to work a few extra-unpaid hours a week to make sure that
your job gets done to the best of its ability. In this case community service
makes sure that the town runs in a sufficient manner.
Even
when there isn't a financial problem within your community, community service
makes up an essential part of the democratic process. Countless people
volunteer their time attending meetings, letting their voice be heard, and
donating their expertise to the town. Boards and
commissions do things throughout the town that others would not get
done. The people on these put fourth countless hours of community service that
most of the time goes un-noticed. If these people were to suddenly stop giving
their time, the government of the town would fall apart.
By
participating in your community, not only will the town grow but you individual
as a person will go as well. There is no better feeling than that of
volunteering ones time to help others. It helps keep you from becoming greedy
and makes you appreciate all that you do have. Without community service, all
the members of the community will lose out on this much needed growing
experience. It helps better one another through the
donation of your time and efforts. This keeps the community in check with
itself and allows everybody to come together as a community.
Most
of the time community service goes un-noticed. Although it goes un-noticed,
this undercurrent of volunteers keeps the community flowing in the right
direction. It makes the town a more personal and friendly place to live. It
helps make sure that the community still does its job while in times of need.
Community service also is a quiet system that runs and adds to the local town
governments. Not only is it giving to the community but also it undoubtedly is
giving to oneself. We should all take
the time and make sure that we thank those who do their share, what ever it may
be, in doing community service. Without out it, our communities would be
nothing like they are today. We all need to continue doing our part by doing
community service to help the civic culture of our local towns and communities.