This week is volunteer week, a week to give thanks to people who volunteer their time for no pay. About one third of all New Zealand adults volunteer an average of 18 hours a month. People between the ages of 40 and 49 years do more volunteering. However, we should not forget the Student Volunteer Army who helped so many people after the earthquake in Christchurch. They arrived in the east of the city with their shovels, dressed in old clothes and boots, ready to shovel liquefaction from gardens, lawns, driveways and roads. Then the farmers came to help too, with their tractors and other big machines. Many other people helped at this time of a terrible disaster.
However, every day many people give their time to help others. People who are experts offer their expertise. Musicians conduct community choirs and orchestras, reading teachers teach adults to read, ESL teachers run voluntary classes, technology experts teach older people to use computers, sports players coach young players or referee games. People who love art become guides in art galleries, people who love animals help at the SPCA or zoo, people who love cycling help to build cycle trails. People who want to help the sick, the old or the poor, volunteer in the hospital, deliver ‘meals on wheels’, drive patients to hospital for cancer treatment, answer phones at Lifeline or join St Johns Ambulance at sports events. Some people donate blood. Some help with Scout groups or other groups for young people. Others volunteer at Citizens Advice offices.
Some volunteers put their lives in danger. Rural fire fighters are volunteers who fight fires in country areas. Search and rescue volunteers help to find people lost on mountains or in other dangerous places.
Why do people volunteer? They want to share their skills, knowledge and experience to help the community. Volunteers feel good about helping because they know their efforts build a strong community. The theme for volunteer week for 2014 is “With your contribution and my contribution, the people will live.”
Vocabulary
- liquefaction – sand/mud which sets like concrete after a short time
- shovel – a big spade
- SPCA – society for the protection of animals
- Meals on Wheels – meals are cooked in the hospital and taken by volunteer drivers to the homes of elderly people
- Lifeline – a phone line for people who are very unhappy and need to talk to someone
- St Johns Ambulance – experts in first aid. They attend rugby games and other sports to help if someone is injured
- Citizens Advice – give information about the community
- contribution – donation, what you give
Hooray! For all volunteers!