Since when did volunteering become a dirty word?

I’ve been thinking a lot about why people do-good? Is there one under lining characteristic or motivational factor that do-gooders share that motivates them to do all the good they do?

Research conducted by the Volunteer Centre in the Ottawa-Carleton region, showed “there is a self-depreciatory tendency among some volunteers to label their motives as selfish because they have gained personal rewards from volunteering.” I disagree that volunteering provokes feelings of self-deprecation from the potential personal gains of volunteering rather I see those potential gains as a motivating factor for some to give their time. Most of the time the personal gains received from volunteering and other forms of doing-good is a bi-product from the initial reason you began doing-good.

I’ve been musing over the motivations behind my own do-good contributions, and like many others, don’t think there is one set answer for why we volunteer but rather a conglomerate of many reasons.

I grew up volunteering so I think up-bringing played a big role in why I continue to volunteer and as I get older volunteering is morphing into much more. I volunteer because I believe in a certain cause or organization, because of groups like JCI Calgary, or because volunteering gives me the opportunity to develop new skills, meet people and help others, the reasons I volunteer and list of benefits of volunteering goes on.

Personally, I am not ashamed of volunteering for the multitude of reasons I do, and I don’t think anyone should ever feel ashamed from volunteering. What’s wrong with helping others? Contrary to the research results, I think in today’s society volunteering and helping others is part of the norm.

 The Centre’s research also found that some people “do not like to talk about their volunteer work for fear of being labeled a `do-gooder', or someone who is seeking praise.” Since when did volunteering become a dirty word? Or a sign of someone seeking praise? At the end of the day helping others is not a bad thing, regardless of your motivations for doing so.  So get out there, do-good and shout goodness from mountaintops.