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At the start of each new year, many of us resolve to get more involved: to volunteer and do something that feels tangible in a world that often seems overwhelming. We all read the news, worry about the fraying social safety net and maybe have that nagging sense that quietly cheering from the sidelines isn’t enough anymore. And then, weeks go by. Life gets busy. And it’s easy to start thinking that whatever we might offer wouldn’t really make a dent.
I’ve been there.
I’ve volunteered in different ways for many years, including more than a decade with Habitat for Humanity. I first got involved through Compassion Week, when groups from across our area set aside time to work on community projects together. That experience opened my eyes to how much good can come from showing up consistently, alongside others.
More recently, I began volunteering at LifeMoves Mountain View, a nonprofit that provides interim shelter for homeless people, operating a complex of 100 small housing units on Leghorn Street. Even though I pride myself on being able to talk with almost anyone, I hesitated. I didn’t know what to expect from such a wide range of people, and I wasn’t sure where I would fit. I imagined a community of more than a hundred clients and staff and wondered whether I’d feel overwhelmed or out of place.
What I discovered was something very different.
On my first day, a staff member introduced me to a client who was tending vegetables in the planter boxes. I joined him for a bit, helping with the plants and talking as we worked. He was focused on beautifying the space and caring for something living. That simple, ordinary moment told me I was in the right place.
I had expected volunteering to be mostly about “doing things,” and I do serve meals, tidy common areas and fill small needs when I notice them. But what surprised me most was how much of my time is spent just talking. Because I volunteer at the same time each week, I’ve gotten to know a core group of people who are usually there. I can ask how a job interview went and remember everyone’s dogs by name.
I’ve come to think of LifeMoves Mountain View as one of the small circles that make up my life. Since retiring, I’ve learned how important those groups are: book clubs, church groups and volunteer teams – places where people know your name and you know theirs.
What continuing to volunteer at LifeMoves Mountain View gives me, beyond the satisfaction of helping, is perspective. It makes abstract issues feel human. Every time you turn on the news or scroll through your timeline, it becomes more clear that public systems alone can’t meet the level of need, and that community involvement matters more than ever. There’s truth behind the saying that action is the antidote to despair: It reminds us that we’re not powerless, and we’re not alone.
If you’ve been thinking about volunteering but haven’t taken the first step – whether because you feel too busy, too unsure or even too old – consider this your encouragement. There are places in our community that will help you find a role that fits who you are and what you can offer.
You don’t have to change the whole world. You can start by helping right where you are.
Robert Bolles has been a Mountain View resident for nearly 50 years. After a career as a robotics engineer at SRI International, he now volunteers for LiveMoves and the Los Altos United Methodist Church.
The Mountain View Voice accepts Guest Opinion pieces from readers on matters of local public interest. The Voice strives to publish a diverse array of viewpoints. To find out more about submitting a Guest Opinion piece, send an email to editor@mv-voice.com.
