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Volunteering to young people <br />means making a difference <br /> <br />,/'Young people do volunteer in the area of <br /> social services (food kitchens, shelters, etc.) <br /> where they receive instant gratification. <br /> <br />We need to show young people that the <br />efforts of civic organizations and local <br />government also make a positive difference <br />in people's lives, even if the impact is not <br />immediate or as readily visible. <br /> <br />Still, the outlook for the future is not as bleak as the graphs might suggest. Young people <br />today are actively volunteering in other settings. <br /> <br />· They lead the way in events like "Make a Difference Day" on the fourth Saturday of <br />October each year. Young adults are more than willing to help in what we might call social <br />services: organizing supplies to help victims of natural disasters, serving food in food <br />kitchens, handing out blankets, soap and shampoo at a homeless shelter. <br /> <br />This willingness to volunteer among young adults who are unwilling to vote came to light in <br />a a study commissioned by the National Association of Secretaries of State. <br /> <br />In response to a question by NC's own Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, a panelist at one <br />of the group's meetings explained: One-on-one social services provides instant <br />gratification; you can see, immediately and firsthand, that you're making a difference in <br />someone's life. <br /> <br />· In encouraging students to be informed, involved citizens, we need to show them that <br />same connection: that actions we take--the money you raise for cancer or leukemia research, <br />the activities you organize for disadvantaged children, the parking ordinances we approve or <br />reject, the soccer fields we build--all make a difference in someone's life. If we can show <br />them that connection, that your organization and mine are working for positive changes, too, <br />then maybe we can Convince young people to take part. <br />Think about how you became involved in community organizations, the influence of parents <br />committed to community causes or friends who encouraged your participation. If young <br />people don't have either of these positive influences, then who can bring this message to <br />them? For the most part, we expect the schools to step in and fill that gap--as they've been <br />asked to do in so many other areas. <br /> <br /> <br />