I think not enough credit is given to those who do volunteer work - many times it is overlooked and unappreciated.  Think of the many hours that volunteers "work" in a huge variety of ways - volunteer firemen, volunteer Sunday School teachers, cub scout leaders, girl scout leaders, little league coaches, and the list goes on and on.

Volunteers have a special way of helping to shape the lives of our children, as well as helping to bring joy to adults as well.  How many various groups go visit the elderly in nursing homes and many times take little gifts to those in the nursing homes.  By the same token, groups or individuals will reach out to those children who are in the cancer centers and have so little hope.

The question of the day is - what have you volunteered to do lately?  Have you volunteered to watch a neighbors child while the parents had to do something with another of the children?  If you are an accomplished seamstress, knitter or crafter, perhaps you could volunteer to teach someone else what you know.  It really doesn't take a great deal of time, perhaps an hour or two a week to reach out to someone.

I'm very thankful for all the volunteers that I've crossed paths with throughout my life, who have helped our family in many ways.  In addition, my husband and I have been little league coach / leage scorekeeper, boy and girl scout leaders, Sunday School teachers, and even taught local Taiwanese young adults English classes while we were stationed in Taiwan.

Give a little extra praise and thanks to those who are currently in volunteer positions that you know, and let them know you DO appreciate what they're doing.