Want to get involved with volunteering? Here's some advice from the book "Be the Change! Change the World. Change Yourself." (Hundreds of Heads Books, www.hundredsofheads.com, $14.95), straight from people who've done it on how to get going.

“When you’re working with less fortunate people, your job is not to judge how they got there. You have no idea what that person’s life is like. Judging someone for their current life condition is as rude and wrong as walking up to someone in a restaurant and saying, ‘You need to lose 10 pounds. You shouldn’t be eating that for lunch!’”

“Start in a small, supportive role in an organization before making a full commitment. It’s not just smarter for you, but it might save that organization time and money. Organizations all have their own unique personalities and dynamics. Even if the organization’s vision and mission are compatible with your values, look carefully. Interviewing, performing background checks and training volunteers takes the organization time and energy. For them, there is nothing worse than having someone decide, after they have been oriented and placed in a position, that “this isn’t what I thought it would be.”

— Penny Townsend-Quill, Rochester, N.Y.

“If you never have done any community service, try volunteering for a political campaign. You will meet people from all walks of life who share your passion. It’s also a great starter opportunity since there is a limited time frame. You know when it begins and ends so you won’t ever get stuck in it.”

“If you don’t go into it with the proper perspective, volunteering with seniors can be very depressing. Focus on your efforts and not on the problems that come with aging and with loneliness. You can’t change the aging process, but you can make the lives of some people better. Whatever time you dedicate to doing that is time that will make it better for these folks.”

— Bob Young, Charlotte, N.C.

“Volunteer. Just do it. It is like explaining the taste of barbecue to someone who has never tasted it. The experience will explain it better than I ever could.”

Hundreds of Heads Books’ survival guides offer the wisdom of the masses by assembling the experiences and advice of hundreds of people who have gone through life’s biggest challenges and have insight to share. Visit www.hundredsofheads.com to share your advice or get more information.