THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES

very day, across the United States, countless numbers of people from all walks of life — as individuals or in groups — spend hours in service to others. Why will one person spend time helping someone he or she does not know, close to home or far away? There are no easy answers. Volunteering is, for some, a way of returning to the community some benefit received. For others, it is an ineffable experience that makes the volunteer “feel good. ” And for still others, it can be a transforming experience — changing one’s perspective on people, on community and on society, and defining one’s purpose in life. The series of articles in this journal will introduce readers first to the expanding role of volunteers in the United States today, and to the existing array of efforts — for example, in corporate America, within the educational and religious sectors, and at different levels of government. We offer overviews and personal reflections. Those who wish to pursue the subject further will find directions to sources that will provide a more extensive exploration