“Volunteering makes you look at the world differently. You see how little things can change a person’s life for the better, which makes everyone a better person. ” Mason, a volunteer said.

National Volunteer Week started in 1974 and is held every April. It is a time to thank volunteers for their achievements. It is also a perfect opportunity (机会) to encourage others to take their first step toward becoming a volunteer. Making the decision to take the first step can be the biggest problem, because they often wonder if they will be able to meet the organization’s expectations (期望).

Some people fear not knowing anyone else in the group. Not having enough time also prevents some from sharing their abilities.

The following tips can help if you have some of these worries.

★Start out slowly. Don’t add too much pressure. Even a few hours a month can make a big difference in someone’s life.

★Choose an organization with the same interests and common values.

★Take part in a training meeting for new volunteers, even if it is not asked.

★Work with a veteran volunteer. He volunteered a lot, he can help you increase the confidence and completely understand the organization’s expectations.

★ Invite a friend or family member to serve. It is a good experience to volunteer with them.

Spend some time on volunteer work and you will see great changes in people’s lives. As Mason discovered during his volunteer experience, “...little things can change a person’s life. ”

Bill Rest is an 11-year-old boy in the USA. This summer, everyone in his town knew about him.

One Friday afternoon, Bill was on his way back home. The bus ride usually takes him about 30 minutes. So Bill started to read a book.

When Bill was busy reading, he heard someone shouting. He got up to see what was up. Then he saw that the driver was not in her seat. She couldn’t move!

Bill left his seat quickly. He got the two-way radio in the front of the bus and asked for help. Every bus has the radio. Lots of people could hear him. Soon, an ambulance(救护车) came. It took the driver to the hospital. The doctors saved the driver in time.

Bill could do this because he knew a lot about bus rules. Last year, some bus drivers came to his school. They taught the students how to use the two-way radio when someone is in danger.

How lucky the driver was!

I want to share with you a story from 28 years ago. My dad was a used car salesman. Every Thursday night, he would head off to Shreveport, LA for an auction （拍卖会）. Most of the time, I drove a car over there for him so he could sell it at the auction.

One day I was riding with my dad when he noticed a hitch-hiker（搭便车的人）with a backpack. Without hesitation, he pulled the car over and offered him a ride. Dad asked him his name, and proceeded （继续） to talk to him about all sorts of things. Dad asked him where he was going. The hitch-hiker told him that he was heading for the west. I can't recall why but he told Dad a lot of things that had occurred （发生）to him and that persuaded him to make that decision. He talked about the tragic （悲惨的） events that occurred to him several years before. He was in low spirits, but I could see that the hitch-hiker,s attitude（态度）was changing as someone was really listening to him.

We drove 45 minutes before the hitch-hiker got off. We pulled over and Dad told him to keep his head up and things would start looking up for him soon. He reached into his pocket and handed the hitch-hiker a twenty-dollar bill. The guy smiled. He nearly lit up right there on the cold, dark highway.

We drove on and my dad did not say a single thing. I was still completely amazed by what I had just witnessed. I was always told by everyone never to pick up a hitch -hiker and yet my dad did it every single time he saw one. While reflecting upon （反思）that story I came to understand that just one single kind act could change someone's life, and I am sure that my father’s deed made that poor man’s day.