In a 2004 trip to San Francisco, I was approached by a number of starving artists and activists.  Although a number of them required nothing more from me than a minute of my time or a signature on a petition, one man in particular remains fresh in my mind.   He was doing work for a conservation group who was fighting to protect California’s rivers and streams.  He boldly asked me for a donation, to which I replied, “I would love to help out.  Are there volunteer opportunities available online?”  He was taken aback by my question, stammered a reply, and quickly left my side which led me to believe his “cause” was as legitimate as all of those beneficiary emails that immediately get directed to my SPAM folder.

I never got over the fact that my time and talents were not considered as valuable as a monetary donation.  I promptly went home and did a web search on charitable organizations and found out that the group in question sought volunteer workers and considered both locals and those purely web-based a crucial part of their success.

I may not have a lot of funds to give away, but I can help change the world one step at a time, according to Nicole Bouchard Bole’s new book, How to Be an EVERYDAY Philanthropist: 330 Ways to Make a Difference In Your Home, Community, and World — At No Cost. A new release from Workman Publishing, the 214-page book dispels the myth that a philanthropist “is a grand lady in pearls writing out checks with a lot of zeros.”  Instead, Boles works to educate her readers about the vast number of volunteer opportunities that are available to anyone interested in giving.

Dividing her subject matter into chapters according to the philanthropist’s level of involvement, individuals are encouraged to use their body, their families, their belongings, their communities, and their calendars.  Emphasizing the importance of giving back, President Jimmy Carter is quoted on the front of the book saying, “This timely manifesto will serve as a wonderful reminder that everyone can and should try to make a difference.  It will inspire confidence that we can help make our world a better place.”

Boles’s matter-of-fact style of writing combined with her expertise help guide a person through the journey of philanthropy.  No matter how busy a person may be, he or she will find comfort in knowing there are hundreds of organizations that would be glad to have them as a volunteer.  Castoff clothing and unwanted hair trimmings are every bit as valuable to some of the groups listed in the book as monetary donations.  Guerilla Gardeners, Baby Snugglers, and Scrapbookers take on new roles as they make better use of their time and provide a valuable service to those in need.

“It takes a village” was a popular slogan of our yester-years but is ever more relevant in today’s changing world.  A little bit of gratitude goes a long, long way in a community.  Boles demonstrates this in her remarkable book.  A gift that keeps on giving, How to Be an EVERYDAY Philanthropist sells for $10.95.  That is a small price to pay to change the world.