When you volunteer, you offer to do something helpful without being paid or forced. A volunteer chooses to give their time and effort because they want to help, not because someone made them or because they'll earn money.

You might volunteer to clean up a park, help at an animal shelter, or read to younger kids at the library. During a class project, you might volunteer to present your group's findings, or to stay after school to help your teacher organize the classroom.

During a crisis, volunteers often show up to distribute food, clear debris, or comfort people in need. Throughout history, volunteer armies have been made up of citizens who chose to defend their communities, and volunteer fire departments still protect many towns today.

Someone who volunteers regularly is called a volunteer (the noun form). Volunteers staff museums, coach youth sports, and help run community programs. Their reward isn't money but the satisfaction of making a difference and the gratitude of the people they help.

When you volunteer, you're saying, “I see something that needs doing, and I'm willing to help make it happen.”