Is it just me or are you feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the suffering in the world? Images of people and animals in need on the news have made me feel helpless lately. The Midwest floods and the heroic efforts of people and organizations working around the clock to rescue people and animals makes me wonder, “Am I doing enough?”

My practical side reminds me that my resources are limited and I just can’t drop everything and go help out every time disaster strikes. If I neglect my responsibility to earn a living, I could end up needing a hand rather than being in a position to lend one. Yet I still can’t help but feel there must be more I could be doing. But the sheer volume of work to be done paralyzes me and makes me wonder, “Where do I even begin?”

“You don’t have to work very hard or do a lot of research to understand that there is a need out there,” says Steve Dale, host of WGN Radio’s Pet Central in Chicago, who serves on the board of directors for the Winn Feline Foundation. “There’s no question people can make a difference in so many ways.”

Never underestimate the impact you can make, Dale says. “The more people who participate, the more impact we will have. If nobody participates, there is no impact. Every person who participates in any way makes a difference.” Whether it’s a donation of $5 or $10 or five hours of your time, he said, it all adds up.

To directly help, Dale recommends going to a shelter and adopting a cat. “By doing that, you’re saving a life and making more room in a shelter.” You can also help by donating your expertise to a shelter, he said. “If you’re a writer/editor, you can help with the shelter newsletter; if you’re an attorney, you can offer to do pro bono work; if you’re a handyman or contractor, you can offer to build shelves at cost; if you’re a plumber or painter, you can help out. I don’t know of a shelter that can run without the help of volunteers, and shelters need a lot of them.”

“There is a whole range of things people can do,” says Faith Maloney, co-founder of Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah. “People who are housebound or have physical challenges can get involved in a local facility and help with paperwork, for example, or write thank-you letters, because sometimes the people who get so busy rescuing forget to do that. They can offer to do some office work or research. People who can handle it emotionally can have direct interaction with the animal: brushing, sitting with or playing with a cat. If someone is willing to just sit one-on-one with a cat, they can provide a lap.”

Fostering, which is sorely needed in shelters, requires more intense involvement, Maloney says. “The people who do this are so valuable.”

If you’re as prone to heartbreak as I am, you have to remember to take good care of yourself when you volunteer.

“The trouble with all of us who do this kind of work is we want to do it all,” Maloney says. “We’ll almost never feel we’re doing enough, but that’s OK. These wonderful creatures pull on our heartstrings.”

People who give of themselves and are passionate about it can sometimes suffer from burnout or something called “compassion fatigue.”

“We all have limitations and if we become overburdened by hearing every single bad story out there, then we need to cut that off and limit what comes in,” Maloney says. “I know it’s tough to do, but sometimes it is necessary. We talk a lot about having balance in your life, but it actually is incredibly important. We would rather people stay in for the long haul, than flash in, burn out and be gone. That takes some control and discipline on what you hear and read about.”

Best Friends presents a workshop called “The Giving Heart Retreat: Replenishing the Animal Lover’s Soul” each May and at its annual conference in October in Las Vegas for people who volunteer.

Alley Cat Allies Founder Becky Robinson also talked about the importance of balance. “I push myself and let other things go in my personal life, because I really believe in this cause. I’m very driven. I’m very passionate. But I know that there are a lot of people that don’t take care of themselves. I was told by so many people that I wasn’t taking care of myself.”

Robinson did some research on the subject and finally found an analogy that helped her balance her life. “You have to look at your life like you were sharpening a knife,” she says. “A dull knife is not effective. I want to be as sharp and as good as I can be in my work. You can only do that if you take care of yourself.

“A lot of people find that they can take on a lot more than they expected, because we can push ourselves when we see light at the end of the tunnel and when we’re taking care of ourselves,” Robinson continues. “Speaking out, using your voice can do a lot to protect animals. We stopped a lot of inhumane things because of people who were willing to make a phone call or send an e-mail. That can be as powerful as going out and saving a cat’s life. The collective voice is important. We have to unite to protect these animals.”

Am I doing enough? I don’t think I ever could say “Yes” to that question, nor would I want to, because that would make me complacent, and that’s something I never want to become. I could always do more. Yet I don’t want to feel guilty about my limitations, because every effort for good really does make a difference. Being available to the needs of those around me without neglecting my own is in itself a worthy cause.