As we celebrate National Volunteer Week this week (April 16 – April 22), please share your volunteering pictures and stories! Whether it’s with
Women of AT&T
, your church, or at the local animal shelter, we love seeing our members in action!
Below is an article I wrote a couple years ago, and I think it’s still relevant today.?
Why Volunteering is Good for Everyone
I believe most people want to help others and work to make the world a better place. A 2018 Volunteering in America report found that 77.34 million adults (30%) volunteered with an organization in 2017, totaling nearly 6.9 billion volunteer hours!
Haven’t volunteered yet? Here are some reasons why volunteering is not only good for your community, but good for you too.
- Volunteering improves your community. This is the most obvious one, but still important. When you volunteer, you’re making a direct impact on those affected by your cause. Whether donating money or time, it all has an economic impact. Many places like museums or social service organizations rely on more volunteers than paid workers to fill gaps in their budgets and meet their goals. The simple act of cleaning up a park, river, or neighborhood can improve the aesthetics (and property values) of the area, which can help boost resident morale and pride.
- Volunteering can improve your physical health. Volunteering can get you up and moving and keep you active. Research has shown that volunteers have a lower mortality rate compared to those who choose not to. Sit at a computer all day for work? Kids are grown and need to get out of the house? Volunteering is a great way to stay physically fit. I get more steps in one day helping walk dogs at the shelter than a whole week at work. And if you’re outdoors, you can soak up some vitamin D from the sun. Bonus!
- Volunteering can improve your mental health. According to the Mayo Clinic, volunteers have shown reduced rates of depression and anxiety, among other mental health concerns. Another 2005 University of Minnesota study found volunteering can slow the increase in depression. Those researchers found the more hours per year a person volunteered, the less depressed they felt. Nothing chases the blues away for me like puppy kisses or giggling kids. The smiles are infectious.
- Volunteering helps you meet others and connect to your community. A 2015 Harvard Medical School study suggests volunteering can make us feel more socially connected. Volunteering is a great way to meet new people who share common interests with you. Plus, getting to know others in your community can lead to lifelong relationships. Whatever your passion, you’re sure to find an organization where you’re able to discover “your tribe”.
- Volunteering gives you a sense of purpose. Do you ever feel like something inside you is missing or that your work isn’t as meaningful as you’d like? The very nature of volunteering means choosing to work without being paid for it. Because of that, people choose to spend their time on issues they feel strongly about. If you’re an animal lover, then volunteering at an animal shelter will help you address an issue that is meaningful to you. Want to try something new? Volunteering is a great way to broaden your skill set and get you out of your comfort zone. Opportunities can be local or even involve travel. It’s all up to you.
There’s a lot of fantastic reasons to volunteer. Committing even as little as 1 hour/week can have a huge impact on your life and the organizations you support.
I also have a book on the subject, 50 Things to Know About Volunteering, on Amazon that has literally 50 fun facts and ideas on how to get involved. Or you can check out volunteermatch.org, allforgood.org, createthegood.aarp.org, or go directly to a specific organization and ask what you can do.
You’ll be glad you did. Believe me.
