Florida, USA: A recent Florida Hurricane Preparedness Survey found that two-thirds of Florida residents are stocked this season with at least 72 hours' worth of food, water and other vital hurricane preparedness supplies. But being ready for hurricanes doesn't stop with stocking up. Make volunteering an integral part of your disaster preparedness plans.  Read article

For the past two summers, it has taken an overwhelming outpouring of volunteer labor and donated supplies to get Guam's public schools ready for the next school year. While it's wonderful that so many people from the community are willing to help out, the question is why is it necessary for them to do so? What if, for whatever reason, the school system doesn't get the needed level of volunteer work? What's the plan then?   Read article

The author laments the failure of his generation to actively protest against the Bush administration in the US and the loss of its ability to alter, or challenge, the status quo. It's not that young people do not care anymore. In fact, volunteering is at its all-time high in the US. But "the shift from activism to volunteerism reflects lack of faith in (this generation's) ability to affect broad social change". Do you agree?   Read article

A young Jamaican boy needs an eye operation and reaches out for financial help to cover medical expenses. The author urges doctors to take up the challenge and questions Jamaicans' sense of altruism.  Read article

Being the chief executive of a voluntary organization is no walk in the park, says Debra Tyler. She heads the Directory of Social Change, an organization that provides information to support volunteer organizations worldwide.  Read article