by Dulce Festin-Baybay

In September 2005, a strong hurricane hit several areas in the United States. New Orleans was one of the worst hit and more than 50 people died. Television footage showed cars submerged in water, fallen trees and hundreds of houses destroyed.

What happened in the US reminded us of the super typhoons that hit more than 20 provinces in the Philippines last December. Due to the cutting of trees in many areas where the typhoon passed, many landslides buried hundreds of houses especially in Quezon Province. Fortunately, our Cebu was spared from this natural disaster.

In the areas affected by the disasters, after a few hours, a lot of people went out into the streets and assisted the local government and the Red Cross in helping those who lost their homes by bringing them to evacuation centers. There, relief goods in the form of water, instant noodles, rice, canned goods, blankets, clothes, medicine were distributed. The disaster was so widespread the government and even the Red Cross needed help also.

Who were these ordinary people who helped those in need? They were all volunteers—people who helped because they wanted to share their time, treasure and talent. People who helped and expected nothing in return. People who went out of the comfort of their safe homes to reach out to those in need.

Who can be a volunteer? Anyone. Even you who are regularly reading That’s Right on Kids R Us can be a volunteer. You can even start volunteering in your own homes. When you help your Mom fix your room,clean the house or wash the dishes, you are a volunteer. When you help your teacher clean the blackboard, you are a volunteer. When you plant trees in order to prevent landslides and floods, you are volunteering to save the environment. When you help in packing relief goods to distribute to those who lost their homes due to natural disasters, you become a volunteer.

A volunteer is doing things to help others, someone who goes the extra mile. For example, when you see another child being regularly beaten by someone and you report it to your trusted elders or organizations, you are volunteering to help stop child abuse. And you know what? When you volunteer, you feel happy, even when you get tired from helping. It is because volunteers forget themselves and think of others instead. Yes, be a volunteer and feel real joy and peace.

(Be a volunteer and report cases of child abuse to ABS-CBN Foundation’s Bantay Bata 163 Cebu (a member of the Lopez Group Foundation). You may also write to Tito N at k@sunstar.com.ph or Tita Dulce at dulcefestin baybay@yahoo.com on how you are volunteering at home and school.)