Volunteering: Empowering Lives & Communities

Volunteering is an excellent way to connect with your community and make it a better place. Indeed, unpaid and paid volunteers are the glue that holds the community together. Volunteering provides critical assistance to people in need, worthy causes, and the community. Even the littlest acts of service can have a positive and significant impact on the lives of people and animals, charitable organizations, and the environment. However, the advantages may be even better for you, the volunteer. Here are some of the unexpected benefits of volunteering, including reasons why you should become involved in your community.

Volunteering helps you connect with others in your community.

Building Bonds: The Community Connect

Volunteering, according to the Corporation for National and Community Service, strengthens your community and social network. You form bonds with the people you assist, and volunteering strengthens relationships between friends, family, and coworkers. When people work together, they form closer bonds, stronger connections, and more powerful attachments to one another. Try volunteering if you want to make deeper connections with other people. You might live longer and be happier as a result.

Volunteering has been shown to help with depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, low self-esteem, and even Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. People with OCD, PTSD, or anger management issues feel more connected to others when they volunteer. They now have a stronger sense of purpose. Connection and meaning lead to fewer symptoms and better social function. When war veterans volunteer at animal shelters, similar programs help them recover from PTSD. Dogs are man's best friend, but assisting those in need benefits both humans and canines. Volunteering, on a more fundamental level, reduces stress and improves well-being. Volunteering provides people with the tools they need to be happier, healthier, and more well-rounded people. It also helps us stay young.

Volunteering: Path to Growth & Wellness

Volunteering improves social skills and raises awareness in school-aged children. High school students volunteer to help with their college applications, and college students volunteer to help with their post-graduation job search. These types of programs benefit everyone. Why not if you can get into a great college or accept a great job offer as a result of your community service? Volunteering's advantages do not have to be limited to others. Many researchers have discovered that Millennials are among the most civic-minded and socially conscious employees.

They select jobs that reflect their values and then continue to donate money, time, and skills. According to AmeriCorps, 28.2 percent of Millennials volunteer their skills for charitable causes, but their volunteer hours also help them compete for jobs. Other generations are discovering that civic-mindedness is an asset in the workplace as well. Incorporating related and unrelated volunteer work on a résumé can frequently highlight your skills while also revealing an openness to teamwork and a talent for innovation. Volunteering has a positive impact on job applicants, according to the majority of employers.

Volunteering and freely donating your time, energy, and resources to people and causes all over the world can bring about global change. It's incredible to think that one person's efforts can affect the lives of others all over the world. The best part, and one that is frequently overlooked, is that volunteering is simply enjoyable.

Start volunteering if you want to meet new people, improve your mental and physical health, and possibly learn new skills along the way. When you do, you have the potential to change your life and the lives of others. Don't dismiss the advantages of volunteering. Accept them!

References

• Harrison, E. & McAllister, J. (2022). The Heart of Community Service: A Deep Dive into Volunteering. Community Press.

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