CARLIE COATES

     Throughout my life, I have always been encouraged to give-back.  Giving back is broad in its meaning, creating a vast amount of interpretation when defining it.  The looseness of its definition is the primary reason it is so neglected in society.  For me, giving back often resorted to some form of community service in a local area.  But what exactly does community service mean?  First off, community service is an act; an act determined by the volunteer to help accomplish a previously requested or needed goal.  Bruce Herzberg describes community service as “the goal … of making better citizens, citizens in the strongest sense of those who take responsibility for communal welfare” (Herzberg, 146.)

     If citizens within an area are all striving to reach this communal welfare, then why do others not feel the need to help them?  For starters, some may have the opinion that asking for help is perceived with a negative connotation.  John McKnight states “service systems teach people that their value lies in their deficiencies” (McKnight, 40.)  This statement concludes that asking for help or asking for certain resources demotes people in their self-esteem and their overall image towards others.  Before community service can happen, people have to recognize their limitations and ask for help.  Asking for support does not give the impression of being deficient, instead it shows the personal strength someone has for seeing they cannot do everything alone. 

     Once citizens are capable of recognizing their needs, personal or community-orientated goals can be organized to help promote volunteering in an area.  By helping others, volunteers are able to actively strengthen a community and take civic responsibility to make a difference in someone’s life.  Apart from community gain, community service brings motivation and satisfaction through personal growth.  One can learn about the current resources a neighborhood has access to and further work to improve them.  Community service can educate one about themselves through deciding future career goals or building a work ethic.  Regardless of the reason for participating in community service, most people agree with Herzberg when he says “they feel a commitment to help more” (Herzberg, 139.)