What if anything do you do to give back to your community or to those less fortunate than yourself?

I give to the food banks and give clothing to good will. I also give money to two charities when I can.

As well as doing what you have listed, I have also done some writing about volunteerism, and I expect to do so again.

I regularly volunteer at the local animal shelter, and I'm a volunteer site coordinator for Bountiful Baskets. I rarely, if ever, have money I can give, but I do have skills and make the time :).

Thanks everyone for your input. I am a true believer that what we put out, we receive back ten-fold, and I also believe that the only way to truly make things better is for us to all work together, doing what we can, where we can. I sent my older children off to school every morning with the instruction to "do something good/nice for someone else today, and tell me about it when you get home."

It paid off, for they are now, at the ages of seventeen and sixteen, nearly grown, and they are both compassionate human beings, who remember to sometimes think of someone other than themselves. Over the years, I used to take them whenever possible as I fulfilled my various volunteer duties, and because I did, they both realized that there were people in the world who in whatever way, physically, financially, etc. , less fortunate than they were, and so they learned to be thankful for all that they have, and to share with those in lesser circumstances.As they are both nearing adulthood, I stopped making them volunteer in favor of allowing them to choose or to choose not to, for themselves, and both of them, chose on their own to continue. I am glad to see so many of you are like minded.

@ Jonesy0311 - I am glad that you are able to give back to our animal brethren, and I agree with you that Paws & Stripes is a great organization, who provides a great service for people who are very deserving of its assistance. When we were stationed in San Diego, my son did some work with a local organization, (or maybe it was Paws & Stripes, I can't remember), who were training service dogs for vets with other disabilities as well. This type of volunteer work, counts just as much as any other, after all our pets have to live here right along with us.

In any case, it isn't the amount of time, or the manner in which you give back but the fact that you are doing what you can, when you can, that matters. If everyone did a little bit, the load would be a lot lighter.

I volunteer at "Paws & Stripes" which is an organization which provides service dogs for veterans with PTSD. I would like to help more at animal shelters or for animal humane, but don't have the time. As for helping less fortuante people, I don't particularly care.

I feel that the animals deserve the help, since most of their problems are created by humans. I can't seem to conjure any sympathy or empathy toward humans (except babies and children of course).

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.