I haven't done much of it in my life, other than the kind where you give money, and stuff like that, but I'm really looking to get more involved with the hands on type stuff this year. They have this big beach clean up thing every year here in Oregon that Iv'e always wanted to do, and that's something I'm thinking of participating in. For years, Iv'e been going out onto my neighborhood streets after midnight, picking up garbage, and trying to make the streets look nicer, so that's another thing I'd like to get involved with, in a more organized way. My ultimate goal though is to one day get a job with Habitat For Humanity, or with some kind of group like that. That's sort of my dream actually.

For those of you who have done, or do charity work, what are some of the organizations you've helped out, and do you have any that you would recommend? For those people who haven't done much charity work, but want to, what are some of the types of things you want to do??

I volunteer about 12 hours of my time every week at my local hospital. Most of the time I do transporting and patient escort. Lately, however, I've been working in the hospital library, pulling and copying articles requested by doctors and other staff members.

I plan on having a career in medicine so I value my time spent there. Most of the volunteers are elderly people with a few pockets of student volunteers here and there. I got to say that there is a great community built around the hospital's volunteers and I'm glad to be part of it. I began last October and intent on continuing it until I can no longer fit it in my schedule. As of yet I managed to balance college, part time work and volunteering.

I've researched about the Peace Corps in the past and still today think that is challenge I'd like to undertake once I complete school. I know that would provide me with a better understanding of public heath on an international level. In some areas around the world not all the vital tools will be available to provide proper care. This is where one would have to develop sharp sense rather quickly.

Overall, I think charity work is a rewarding experience. There may not be any monetary gain to be seen in your wallet, but the lessons learned and experiences lived are far more valuable.

I volunteer about 12 hours of my time every week at my local hospital. Most of the time I do transporting and patient escort. Lately, however, I've been working in the hospital library, pulling and copying articles requested by doctors and other staff members.

I've thought about doing that. Maybe it would help me get a job.

I participate in Up 'til Dawn at my college. It's a college campus organization that raises money for St. Jude Children's Hospital. There are different chapters of it all over the nation. I'm extremely excited to do that this semester.

My fraternity raises a lot of money for this local place with an after school program for kids.

And I just inquired the other day about volunteering at the hosptial. I'm pretty excited to start doing that because I want to work in health care in some way so I think it'll be very worthwhile.

I prefer to get paid for my work. Many people say you feel good about yourself after volunteering but I don't. I feel like I'm wasting time of my life. I do have friends who do volunteer work. One of my friends brings his dog to the hospital to cheer up the patients. The only volunteer work I would consider doing is reffing basketball games for the younger kids.