Is there "work" value in volunteering?

Do you consider your volunteer hours "work"? How is value measured in your family? Recently I have had an encounter with someone who has the opinion that a military wife who is a stay at home mom and volunteer doesn't "work". Now we all know where I stand on this issue. Not only has my family chosen for me to "stay home" with my daughter because of my husband's career choice and the journey we have chosen in which to create our "life", but I also an an active volunteer. Yes, I have chosen to work from home as well as being a mama, but that was my own choice for my personal values and goals, not a choice that I feel had to be made or one that was made out of necessity. I can honestly tell you without a shadow of a doubt that what I do all day IS WORK. I am one of the busiest persons I know. Am I one of the richest? Not monetarily. Not at all. So does that mean I that I don't work because I don't have a consistent paycheck? Does that mean that any wife who stays home isn't "valuable" or doesn't "work" because she doesn't have a monetary income?
I suppose there is no general right or wrong answer to that question because it is opinion based. It depends on where you choose your value to be and what you consider work. I, personally, know that you can "work" and never go to a 9-5 but you can also go to a 9-5 and never "work".