Volunteering why is it important

Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, especially if you are new to an area. Volunteering also strengthens your ties to the community and broadens your support network, exposing you to people with common interests, neighborhood resources, and fun and fulfilling activities.

While some people are naturally outgoing, others are shy and have a hard time meeting new people. Volunteering gives you the opportunity to practice and develop your social skills, since you are meeting regularly with a group of people with common interests. Children watch everything you do.

By giving back to the community, you show them firsthand how volunteering makes a difference and how good it feels to help other people and animals and enact change. Volunteering can provide a healthy boost to your self-confidence, self-esteem, and life satisfaction. You are doing good for others and the community, which provides a natural sense of accomplishment. Your role as a volunteer can also give you a sense of pride and identity. And the better you feel about yourself, the more likely you are to have a positive view of your life and future goals.

Volunteering combats depression. Reducing the risk of depression is another important benefit of volunteering. A key risk factor for depression is social isolation. Working with pets and other animals has also been shown to improve mood and reduce stress and anxiety.

Volunteering helps you stay physically healthy. Studies have found that those who volunteer have a lower mortality rate than those who do not, even when considering factors like the health of the participants.

Volunteering has also been shown to lessen symptoms of chronic pain or heart disease. I have limited mobility—can I still volunteer? Whether due to a lack of transportation, time constraints, a disability or other reasons, many people prefer to volunteer via phone or computer. Ask yourself if there is something specific you want to do or achieve as a volunteer.

Sometimes an opportunity looks great on paper, but the reality is quite different. Try to visit different organizations and get a feel for what they are like and if you click with other staff and volunteers.

In fact, research shows that just two to three hours per week, or about hours a year, can confer the most benefits—to both you and your chosen cause. The important thing is to volunteer only the amount of time that feels comfortable to you. Volunteering should feel like a fun and rewarding hobby, not another chore on your to-do list. To make sure that your volunteer position is a good fit:.

Ask questions. You want to make sure that the experience is right for your skills, your goals, and the time you want to spend. You should be comfortable with the organization and understand the time commitment. Give yourself some flexibility to change your focus if needed. If volunteering overseas, choose carefully. Some volunteer programs abroad can cause more harm than good if they take much-needed paying jobs away from local workers.

Look for volunteer opportunities with reputable organizations. Enjoy yourself. The best volunteer experiences benefit both the volunteer and the organization. Or are you uncomfortable simply because the situation is new and unfamiliar? VolunteerMatch — Find opportunities that match your volunteer interests, from location to type of work.

Idealist — Find volunteer opportunities in your local area or internationally. National and Community Service — Federal organization offering volunteer positions across the U. National Service. Volunteer — Directory of environmental volunteer opportunities. Peace Corps — Offers volunteer opportunities overseas and includes a 50 Plus division.

Peace Corps. Red Cross. Why volunteer? Corporation for National and Community Service. The many ways volunteering is good for your heart — Includes resources for finding volunteer positions. Harvard Health Publications.

Network for Good. This holiday season alone, millions of people will turn to HelpGuide for free mental health guidance and support. So many people rely on us in their most difficult moments. Can we rely on you? All gifts made before December 31 will be doubled. Cookie Policy. Learn how to find the right volunteer opportunity for you. Benefits of volunteering: 4 ways to feel healthier and happier. Volunteering as a family Children watch everything you do.

So time to get started! One of the many beauties of volunteering is that there are endless ways that you can get involved and make a difference. The key to accruing all the benefits of volunteering is to find something you really like in a community that you love. It is time to consider your options carefully so you can find an opportunity that will be realistic for you as well as fulfilling. There are tens of thousands of nonprofit organizations in the United States with volunteering opportunities ranging from health care and mental health, to sports, to politics, to childhood development.

Here are some tips to start finding the right volunteer opportunity for you:. Here are some things to consider as you search for your next volunteer opportunity. First and foremost, consider how much time you can give. If you can only give an hour a month—great. When volunteering as a part of a team, you should make sure you can commit the time you are promising. Making reasonable timeframes will help you settle in for the long-term. And being upfront about your time constraints will help you avoid disappointing anyone counting on you and your volunteer efforts.

Also, consider your physical capabilities. Do you have constraints that will make certain tasks difficult? Be honest with yourself about what you are comfortable with accomplishing. I have found that most nonprofit organizations are very happy to accommodate volunteers who have special requests and needs if you are upfront with them about your limitations.

Another thing to mull over is what kind of skills you already possess. What skills or experience could be helpful to the nonprofit you are working with? If you know accounting, help them get their books in order. Organizations will LOVE getting this kind of expertise that they would usually have to pay top dollar for.

Next, think about where your interests lie and what kind of field would you want to explore. Do you like working with animals? Want to learn more about farming and agriculture? Interested in learning to compost? Do you enjoy playing with children? Spending time with the elderly? Would you want to learn how to help refugees? Deciding what kind of organization you would like to work with first will help you bring enthusiasm and excitement to your volunteer experience.

Are you interested in working outside of your home country? Do you have the time and finances to travel? Would you rather stay close to home where you might not have to spend money to volunteer? Consider again what might work best for you. Volunteering abroad tends to be expensive and time-consuming, which may or may not be something you are prepared to do. Plus there are many opportunities right in our own communities! But if you want to do work to save the oceans for instance, and you live in the mountains of Colorado, your local community may not have the right opportunity for you.

In that case, you will want to search outside of your hometown. Make sure that if you are considering volunteering abroad, that you work only with a reputable organization that you can verify necessary information about what to expect before you leave home.

There are some amazing opportunities to combine your travel with volunteering. Companies like Have Fun Do Good provide the opportunity to do purposeful travel, arranging for your trip to be structured around a service project.