The Value Of Volunteering
As we head into National Volunteerism week, we are reflecting upon all of the amazing volunteers that supported our efforts to donate salmon during this pandemic. Volunteers provide invaluable services to organizations all across the world.
According to Americorps, volunteerism and civic-related activities are on the rise. In fact, according to the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), a federal agency that oversees AmeriCorps and Senior Corps, over 77 million of Americans volunteer at some level.
"Altogether, Americans volunteered nearly 6.9 billion hours, worth an estimated $167 billion in economic value, based on the Independent Sector’s estimate of the average value of a volunteer hour for 2017. Millions more are supporting friends and family (43.1%) and doing favors for their neighbors (51.4%), suggesting that many are engaged in acts of “informal volunteering.”
Why is Volunteering Vital to Nonprofits & Communities?
For some, it is a natural activity; for others, they may never volunteer at all. But why is volunteering important? There is no question that volunteerism is essential to our communities, and without it, they would face devastating gaps in services. Many organizations depend upon volunteers to survive.
Food banks are largely volunteer-based with only a handful of staff on hand to guide them and to handle the procurement of necessary goods. At the Marine Mammal Center, one of our partners, there are 1,400 volunteers that staff the center round the clock. They make up nearly 150,000 hours of work valued at nearly $5.5 million dollars. Imagine needing to fundraise enough to cover all of that time. It would be impossible. Nonprofits could not afford to support the communities that they serve without volunteers.
How Does Volunteer Work Support Your Health?
Those that volunteer are known to live longer and happier lives. Many studies have shown that community service can improve your own mental well-being. The human brain is wired to help others, and your emotional health is rewarded when you participate in altruistic behavior.
A study of adults over the age of sixty-five found that the social interaction and sense of accomplishment that volunteering activities can provide have been linked to the overall improvement in mental health and general life satisfaction in older adults.
According to a report by the Corporation for National & Community Service, research has uncovered a strong relationship between volunteering and improved functional ability, as well as lower rates of depression later in life.
It has also been proven that volunteering leads to improvement in physical health, and also supports the health of youth that volunteer.
What are Unique Ways to Volunteer?
There are a variety of unique ways in which all of us can get involved in issues and causes we care about. Your schedule, for example, may not accommodate a day a week working at the local food bank, but you can find another way to give back and contribute. Here are some ideas:
1. Help seniors in your community by reaching out to an elderly neighbor. Shovel their driveway or mow their lawn. Share a meal or drop off cookies. If you are handy, offer to fix things for them. Or just spend time with them – loneliness is a massive issue leading to depression amongst our elders. Bring over a game of checkers to play, a classic movie to watch, or old tunes to enjoy.
2. Do good from home by getting crafty in your living room. Make visitor kits for senior center residents or homeless shelters with things that kids need when they arrive. Turn on the stove and make some goodies for a senior or family in your area or the Ronald McDonald House.
3. If you’re an animal lover, find your nearest animal shelter and walk dogs or play with the cats. Or volunteer to walk an elderly neighbor’s dog. For neighbors going on a trip, offer to check in and feed their pets or give the animals a temporary home in yours. You can also find other animal welfare organizations on petfinder.com.
4. Give to veterans or military families. Check in with local veteran service organizations. If you live near a military or guard base, contact the base’s Family Resource Center to see how you can help!
5. Volunteer for the planet. Beyond beach clean-ups, think about organizing awareness campaigns, planting trees, or volunteering at your local parks. Work to start or support community gardens, wild life rescue, and rehabilitation programs.
6. Join a movement.
If you want to make an impact on a large scale, volunteer through organizations focused on collective action. The Sierra Club, World Wildlife Fund, and 350.org are great places to start if you want to advocate for conservation and climate action. The Defenders of Wildlife will help you sign petitions and contact your reps about protecting animals.
Volunteerism is contagious – in the best way possible. When community members work together to address local needs, they increase social engagement and strengthen networks with other civically-engaged people. Communities with robust social engagement also tend to foster more engaged volunteers.
Remember that the true aim of volunteering in the local community is to improve the lives of those around you. The importance of community service is considerable, and there are countless benefits to both you and those you touch!
