Volunteering.. Do you do your part?

With Obama in office now, there's more talk than ever about motivating students of all ages to take a more active interest in volunteering in their community. Many students and community members already dedicate their time and energy to local and international efforts geared toward helping those in need.
Commonly, countries like Germany will include an option between military service and a year of volunteering as an extension of the curriculum.
There are endless opportunities available to involve yourself in both large and small ways- do you do your part? And is volunteering more than a good natured helping hand, is it a responsibility?