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Give Yourself Away

When I'm not writing, I'm a consultant to schools on a variety of topics. Many of the institutions I work with have a "service learning" component to the curriculum. Students are expected to volunteer at various agencies, participate in fundraisers, or advocate for a cause. The idea is to learn the value of giving back to the community and what it means to participate in a global society.

In the last two years, 886,600 Connecticut residents have volunteered approximately 97 million hours of service. That means 32.2 percent of Connecticut residents volunteer, ranking the state 17th in the nation, and on average each resident contributes 35.2 hours of service, ranking Connecticut 27th among the states. During this same time period, Connecticut residents contributed $2.1 billion of service.

What might not be so obvious are some of the perks of volunteering: free stuff, free friends, free fun, and even free food!

There are lots of ways to volunteer. My craziest volunteer experience got me free kitty litter. I had two cats, Chips and Salsa, whom I acquired when I lived in California. Somehow I discovered the concept of "walking" your cats with a harness. I tried walking my charges in the bright California sunshine, thinking it would be a way for us to spend quality time together and get some exercise. This didn't work at all. My sneaky felines could wriggle out of their halters in seconds. After several attempts at taking the air, I retired the pink and blue leashes and made my kitties stay indoors. Chips resented this strategy and took it out on the household by refusing to go in his litter box and cover up his stinky stuff.

As a poor graduate student at that time, I was always looking for ways to save money. I thought about volunteering for some clinical trials, but there was nothing nearby. As I scoured the Internet and other resources, I came upon a company who was testing kitty litter. I signed up thinking that this might be the answer to my litter problem. I got months and months of clay litter, clumping litter, paper litter, and bark litter. All I had to do was keep track of how my cats made do-literally. To this day, I use the litter I discovered Chips would actually use.

If you don't need kitty litter, but would like to receive something for a low cost, or for free, take advantage of the activities offered in and around the area. If you decide to volunteer, you'll be giving of yourself, having fun, and making friends.

• A show in New York City is a great splurge, but there are theaters that are closer and cost much less. You could offer to volunteer at the ticket office, at the door, or be an usher and receive free tickets. If even this still seems costly, check out the productions put on by the local high schools. These events are first rate and you're giving to a good cause. And don't forget about dress rehearsals for plays and concerts. These are offered free or at a reduced cost.

• Volunteer at local festivals and fairs. You could receive free tickets and free food. For other free food options, offer to assist at events that serve wine and cheese, such as an art opening.

• If you're serious about volunteering, check out www.volunteermatch.org, a website with information on various organizations looking for volunteers. If you happen to be a member of an organization on the lookout for assistance, this website could be the place where you'll find your match. You can look for a specific location, such as Connecticut, where there are nearly 1,000 volunteer opportunities, or use a keyword, such as animals, for a specific type of job.

• For students and younger folk, finding volunteer work as an intern is a valuable way to learn about different career options and to gain work experience for a résumé.

• Consider volunteering in another country. Several organizations can set you up for this experience, including Cross-Cultural Solutions, which offers opportunities in 12 countries (www.crossculturalsolutions.org).

Volunteering can save you money, but it also gives back by offering mental and physical health benefits. Volunteering to test a product, like I did with the kitty litter, will guarantee you'll know the real scoop.

Naomi Migliacci is an international consultant who enjoys traveling and adventure. She collects friends and bracelets wherever she goes. She lives in Guilford.