-By Danielle Hoffman

The heart of a volunteer is something special. It is selfless. It is generous. It is compassionate and kind. And it is vital to the culture and success of any non-profit agency.  Volunteers save money and resources; that is tangible and crucial. What is intangible – and more profound – is the way volunteers infuse a spirit of giving, warmth, passion, and optimism into the causes they support.  It is the way they touch lives.

There is nothing more precious than time.  Each of us has the choice each day of what to do with the finite number of hours and minutes before us. Work, family, friends, errands, and the details of life often compete for those limited hours. As we celebrate National Volunteer Week, we honor those individuals who have chosen to use their priceless time in service to others.

To witness the heart of a volunteer in action is inspiring and humbling. As a Volunteer Coordinator at San Diego Hospice, we offer our sincere gratitude to the more than 700 volunteers who support our mission. San Diego Hospice volunteers are phenomenal men and women, essential to carrying out our programs and services.  And we extend our deepest appreciation to all of the volunteers who are out there making their communities better and stronger every single day, in countless ways. You may not think that what you’re doing is extraordinary… but it is. Thank you for what you do, and for who you are.

There are a variety of volunteer opportunities in San Diego County. If you are interested in sharing your time and talents for a worthy cause, check out the Volunteer San Diego website for more information. You can also contact local schools, religious organizations and other non-profits that you are interested in to see what volunteer opportunities are available.

Danielle Hoffman is a Volunteer Coordinator with San Diego Hospice and The Institute for Palliative Medicine. She also has volunteered with local organizations over the years.