This is what Henry David Thoreau had to say, in effect, about volunteers:

"If you see a man approaching you with the obvious intent of doing you good, you should run for your life."

The rugged individualist did not have much use for charity, apparently. But after all he preferred the company of nature to that of society.

We are now oberving National Volunteer Week, a concept that probably would have sent Thoreau even deeper into the woods. Many organizations are recognizing the men, women and children who step out of their own self-absorbed worlds to give their time, money, energy, or even parts of themselves, to help others who need the help.

The recipients of volunteer service may be children needing mentors; patients needing blood; stray animals needing shelter and homes; or even other community organizations needing a monetary boost. In other words, human beings are stepping up to help their fellow humans and to hold the fragile social order together.

Modern volunteeris...