There is little in this world more gratifying and humbling than taking the time to aid and give to others. The act of volunteering is one of selflessness, but in return, you gain knowledge and a sense of accomplishment. Volunteering is an activity that anyone at any age can engage in and can take many forms depending on the group or organization you are involving yourself with.
The best way to learn and grow is to elevate others and to teach what you already understand. Sharing information with others, although nothing extravagant, is one of the most useful ways you can volunteer your time to individuals. An example of how sharing what you know can help an organization would be volunteering your time to speak to a local group about their social media. Many organizations need help marketing themselves and the projects they are producing, and by showing what you know, they are able to reach more individuals.
Often we hold an immense potential to aid others through what we already know but we do not see it clearly. Take the time to understand what you are capable of, look at the local organizations and match up your skills to the possible needs an organization may have. And it is not all about what you already hold in terms of skills. By searching out organizations that you may be interested in but may not see a direct way you can help them, through reaching out you can learn what they need. Should you not have the proper skills to aid that organization, it is probable that they will teach you the skills necessary to contribute, should you ask.
Volunteering has far reaching impacts, as your donated time and energy does not just impact the organization but the community it serves. Your contributions also impact the state and country you are in; albeit on a small scale, you are positively impacting more people than you think. In the case of volunteering, your positive actions often produce a positive reaction directed back at you.
In an article created and published by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, it is stated that “the benefits of volunteering go way beyond what you might think. Aside from being able to help others and better your community, decades of research indicate that those who volunteer have lower mortality rates, greater functional ability and lower rates of depression later in life than those who do not volunteer.”
So it is not wrong to think of any volunteer efforts you place in now as an investment in your own well-being and the state of your community. When you focus and put time and effort into something, returns will be felt eventually, and they are almost always positive. By understanding that volunteering has these positive impacts of yourself and others, it is possible to further increase involvement in others. In showing that it is not just a waste of time, or that your work will actually change peoples lives, more individuals might begin to donate their time as well. It is imperative to be an example for others, and through volunteering you can do just that, along with spreading the word about the organizations you contribute to.
In short, know the benefits of volunteering, not just for others but for yourself. Seek to promote your involvement to others in hopes of spreading the positive behavior of giving back to the community. Lastly, know that there are many ways to give back to the community, so even if you don’t have the time or the money, there is always something you can do to ensure you are giving back to those around you.
Volunteer Opportunity Search Websites:
–https://americorps.gov/join/find-volunteer-opportunity
–https://www.volunteermatch.org/
Evan Brooks is a third-year Business Management major with minors in Economics and Civil & Professional Leadership. EB916132@wcupa.edu