The Endless Benefits of Volunteering

At AARP , we have 65,000 volunteers across the country in every state office and with our many programs. For example, the AARP Foundation offers the largest volunteer-based free tax preparation service in the country. Tax-Aide is powered by 26,000 volunteers every year.

AARP is just one organization that is powered by the selfless devotion of time by thousands of people, which is why I decided to write about the importance of volunteering. Quite simply, it’s essential for delivering on our social mission. But there’s another angle of volunteering that I want to call out, and that’s the beneficial impact of volunteering on the actual volunteers.

Consider these benefits from spending some amount of time volunteering for a cause you believe it. It’s a lengthy list, so sit back and contemplate the benefits: it helps others, you meet new people, makes you active, you become a part of a community, you learn new skills, it reduces stress, gives you purpose, you feel good about yourself, boosts self confidence and self-esteem, increases life satisfaction, provides job prospects, and brings fun into your life.

Wow! Volunteering sounds like a partial cure for some health issues that plague us, and the list of benefits goes on. According to the American Heart Association, adults who volunteer report lower blood pressure, healthier cholesterol levels and other markers of good heart health. In fact, one study showed that people who volunteered at least 100 hours a year had lower mortality rates over the following four years.

This is on top of clear evidence that volunteerism combats loneliness, keeps the mind sharp and even reduces physical pain.

In addition to our Tax-Aide volunteers, AARP has volunteer staff at the Friendly Voice Call Center, which connects people with trained volunteers to help fight loneliness and social isolation. We run voter education sessions, driver safety programs and our volunteers staff fraud prevention centers and help people volunteer to work with animals. Our many intergenerational volunteer opportunities connect adults with school children who need academic tutoring. There is virtually no end to the types of volunteer work that you can do. And of course, we are always open to new ideas, new opportunities and new ways to give back.

Whatever people’s passion and skill, we help them connect with opportunities, primarily through our Create the Good tool and volunteer page on AARP.org, which allow people to search by type of volunteer work and geographic region.

As one of our volunteers who staffs the Fraud Watch Network Helpline put it: “Being able to help, even if it’s simply one person at a time, is worth every hour I put in and so much more.”

No matter what angle you consider, volunteering is good all the way around. There’s probably an organization waiting for your help. Go for it!