Statistics show that volunteers are most active in November, April and March around Thanksgiving and Lent. Around December, donating events such as Toys for Tots and Stuff-A-Bus collect toys for children.

Meanwhile, during other months of the year, people who volunteer in shelters, food banks etc. is more likely to be people who have given their time at the same place for a long while. Most new volunteers are just around for the holidays to work in the holiday spirit. The same goes for donations.

When people donate food, clothing and other supplies, it seems that it isn’t recognized to be needed year-round. Around Thanksgiving, commercials show employees handling their donation collection. The holiday time is considered to be the time of giving. With the time that people can find to donate and assist during the holidays, it is possible to imagine that it would be just as simple to find time to volunteer during the rest of the year.

Around 25 percent of Americans are volunteers. It is possible for many more Americans to be volunteers with many different organizations. When it comes to donations, 12 percent of donations are made in the last three days of the year.

Many of the American volunteers are around the age of 30 and above. What makes volunteering so unappealing to the younger American demographic?

“The unappealing part is that you take up your own personal time for volunteering,” junior Steven Buerkle said.

In Freedom, volunteering is a requirement for graduation and NHS. Those requirements are a reason why Freedom students may volunteer; however, requirements shouldn’t be the only reason why high school students volunteer.

“People shouldn’t volunteer for a requirement because it’s not going to change who you are. It does more good if you care about it than if you don’t,” Buerkle said.

Outside of requirements and holiday cheer, organizations work all year, every year to provide help for various situations, including organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, the American Red Cross and one that is closer to home: Hosanna Industries.

Hosanna Industries is a Christian missionary organization with a campus down the road from the New Sewickley police department.

Hosanna Industries uses volunteers to work on homes, works outside of the state and runs fundraising events to help with supplies for missionary work.

Volunteers are monumental for the work they do helping others. Donations play a meaningful role in supplying food, building supplies, and more when continuing to work for others.

It is important to give back to others who have helped you and especially to those who are in need of help. The world needs more volunteers of all ages to continue that significant work for others. As Mahatma Gandhi once said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”