Last year more than 64.3 million Americans heard the call to donate their time to volunteer work, according to the Corporation for National and Community Service. An increase of 1.5 million individuals answered the call compared to 2010. These heroes’ experiences ranged from helping out at animal shelters to helping with national causes. The idea of volunteering has to start somewhere. For some, it starts in high school and travels with them as they grow older, making lifelong friendships and shaping the world’s future in the process.

During high school, students have the chance to volunteer through many opportunities. Through different clubs such as Student Council and National Honor Society, students can get involved in events such as raising money and giving back to the community. One club in particular at FHN, Volunteer Knights works to raise money for different causes by having hat days and holding an annual blood drive at the school. Volunteer Knights sponsor Kellie Voyles believes that volunteering gives students a great sense of feeling when they go out and help people who are in need.

“A lot of us have everything,” Voyles said. “We’re able to have a nice roof over our head and have a nice Christmas and some people who have lost their jobs aren’t able to provide those things. It’s nice to be able to see people enjoy the things that we enjoy ourselves. It gives you a sense of accomplishment, and it’s a really feel-good sensation when you do those acts for people who are in need. I also think it lets people see what is out there as a reality. Life’s not perfect for everyone and not everyone has it as good as other people.”

Volunteer Knight Lovely Hall believes that everyone should volunteer at least once in their lifetime because it helps to realize the impact they can leave in the world, even if it is through small things. “I like to help as much as possible, whether I’m volunteering at school, or helping the homeless or helping collect blood at the blood drive,” Hall, a freshman, said. “I want to volunteer for the rest of my life because it’s rewarding because I won’t have to think about how I could have helped in high school.”

Students who look for bigger opportunities to help with causes in their community can also reach out to state or national organizations. GenerationOn is a volunteer organization that helps students around the nation make their mark on the world. This branch, under the Point of Light Institute, focuses on how today’s youth can be everyday heroes through acts of community service. The organization includes many different resources, ideas, and funds for children, so they can help make a change in not just their neighborhoods but in the world.

GenerationOn created Kids Care Clubs, a program that offers kids a chance to make a difference. Since 1990, Kids Care Clubs have been providing wind under the superhero capes of children by providing the resources and funds they need to be involved in the community through hands-on service projects. Today, there are more than 1,800 registered Kids Care Clubs. There are more than 100,000 ordinary children in the United States and other countries who are in Kids Care Clubs that are wanting to make their mark on the world.

Furthering their volunteer work down the road, people can participate in national organizations that help the world on a larger scale. Bruce Jones, a 55-year-old volunteer, works with a nationwide organization, All Hands Volunteers. All Hands gathers passionate individuals as sends them off to places hurting from natural disasters.

Jones also believes that volunteering is important and has experienced the effects of volunteering through his lifetime works.

From March to November, Jones spends time running a golf course in upstate New York but during the cold winter months of December to February, he closes down the golf course so he can volunteer with All Hands in any way possible, whether it be driving a few hours down the road or traveling across the world to help to clean up, demuck and rebuild homes that were devastated by natural disasters like the tsunami in Thailand, most recently, hurricane Sandy.

“Without volunteering I’d probably just be a grumpy old man,” Jones said.“My life would be a whole lot shallower. It’s such a rewarding and soul building experience.”