Volunteer work means different things to different people. Some people dedicate their lives as an active volunteer while others do so passionately but fleetingly. Despite his young age, Luke Buchanan already possesses years' worth of volunteer experiences. He began volunteering as a high school student.

“I grew up in Washington, D.C. with my family and there never seemed to be a dull moment. However, I believed it was important to help others and I felt bad for people less fortunate than myself,” says Luke Buchanan. Appreciating everything he had as a child, he took the time to volunteer throughout his high school years.

He became a regular volunteer for the Spanish Education Development Center or (SED). The center served as a day care for underprivileged children in Washington, D.C. As a high school student, Luke Buchanan realized there were many benefits to working as a volunteer. “I always felt good after performing volunteer work. Like I was really making a difference. This positive feeling left me wanting to help out more,” says Luke Buchanan.

In 2007, Luke Buchanan moved to New Orleans where he attended Tulane University. He double majored in Communications and Environmental Studies, was elected Pledge Class President for Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and played Men’s Club Lacrosse. Despite his busy student schedule, he found time to volunteer in New Orleans too.

“The evidence of the hurricane was still obvious and I wanted to do my own part to help the area out. I joined the Habitat for Humanity and worked as a volunteer in the post-Katrina years,” says Luke Buchanan. He also performed Event 350 service work in New Orleans. “Event 350 is an grassroots movement whose mission is to spread awareness about carbon emission and eventually lower the carbon count to 350ppm in the ozone,” says Luke Buchanan.

Today, Luke Buchanan continues to work as a volunteer mostly with photography. He photographs political events for HispanicLink.org and animal adoptions for PetFinder.com. He has also published three articles for HispanicLink.org - his favorite being about the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals. Luke Buchanan also posts all of his photos onto his Flickr website.