Volunteerism: connecting and supporting thousands of seemingly un-related causes and activities.

Kind of like a clothesline - that tiger-print Hawaiian shirt really has nothing to do with that pair of 10-year-old acid-washed jeans next to it, but without the line supporting and connecting both of them, they'd be in seperarate little damp piles of questionable fashion in the backyard. And that would be tragic.

One of the many comfortable articles of civic engagement supported by clothesline of volunteerism is Event Planning. From school dances with their volunteer chaperones, to charity auctions with their volunteer auction assistants, to smaller-scale Community Organization parties with their volunteer food servers - so many of the events that we attend to celebrate, build community, and/or enjoy snacks, are made possible by volunteers.

Event volunteers sometimes have a long-standing relationship with the organizer, but this is not always the case. There are many events happening year-round in the Twin Cities that put out an open call to volunteers. Take the upcoming "A Perspective of Hope" - a fundraising Gala for Perspectives Family Center, on October 26. There's still a need for volunteers like you to come and greet guests, help run the charity auction, and eat the free pizza that will be provided to you because you are a wonderful volunteer. Just by being friendly and helpful, you can assist Minnesota's largest supportive housing program.

So many ways to be involved. And at least some of them come with free pizza.