Volunteering to help others strengthens communities, saves resources and solves problems. There are also personal advantages to helping others. Donating your time and talent to causes that you care about can improve your own health and well-being.
The health benefits of volunteering
Studies show that volunteering can make us healthier, both mentally and physically. People who volunteer at least 100 hours a year (about two hours per week) gain the most from their efforts. Volunteering can help you:
- Connect socially: Volunteering is a great way to meet people who share your values and interests. For military families who are always on the move and readjusting to new places, volunteering can help you make friends and learn about your new community.
- Feel less lonely: Studies show that people who volunteer are less likely to feel lonely and are less prone to depression. That’s due in large part to being around other people. But volunteering can also give a person a sense of purpose, which is helpful in warding off feelings of despair and sadness.
- Lower stress levels and blood pressure: Being around like-minded people and doing meaningful work reduces heart rate and blood pressure. In short, it makes you feel good!
- Be more physically active: Volunteering not only gets you out of the house, but it can get you moving, too. Walking dogs for the local animal shelter, tending the community garden and doing yard work for older adults in your community are all ways you can keep yourself active while helping others.
Find volunteer opportunities that are right for you
The most effective volunteers are those who are truly passionate about what they do. Before you start your search, take some time to think about what you enjoy most. If you love the outdoors, you might connect with a land conservation organization that maintains hiking trails. If animals are your passion, contact a humane society.
Another way to find meaningful volunteer work is to tap into your own interests and concerns. Maybe you’re a talented quilter. Give lessons at a youth center or nursing home. If you’re worried about dwindling funding for education or the arts, join forces with organizations that support the schools or cultural activities in your community.
If you’re not sure where to begin, consider these suggestions:
- Contact your local United Way to ask about volunteer needs.
- Go online. United We Serve allows you to learn about, sign up for and create service projects. The site is managed by the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency charged with promoting and fostering volunteering and national service in America.
- Read the volunteer listings in your local newspaper or community website.
Volunteering to help others strengthens communities, saves resources and solves problems. There are also personal advantages to helping others. Donating your time and talent to causes that you care about can improve your own health and well-being.
The health benefits of volunteering
Studies show that volunteering can make us healthier, both mentally and physically. People who volunteer at least 100 hours a year (about two hours per week) gain the most from their efforts. Volunteering can help you:
- Connect socially: Volunteering is a great way to meet people who share your values and interests. For military families who are always on the move and readjusting to new places, volunteering can help you make friends and learn about your new community.
- Feel less lonely: Studies show that people who volunteer are less likely to feel lonely and are less prone to depression. That’s due in large part to being around other people. But volunteering can also give a person a sense of purpose, which is helpful in warding off feelings of despair and sadness.
- Lower stress levels and blood pressure: Being around like-minded people and doing meaningful work reduces heart rate and blood pressure. In short, it makes you feel good!
- Be more physically active: Volunteering not only gets you out of the house, but it can get you moving, too. Walking dogs for the local animal shelter, tending the community garden and doing yard work for older adults in your community are all ways you can keep yourself active while helping others.
Find volunteer opportunities that are right for you
The most effective volunteers are those who are truly passionate about what they do. Before you start your search, take some time to think about what you enjoy most. If you love the outdoors, you might connect with a land conservation organization that maintains hiking trails. If animals are your passion, contact a humane society.
Another way to find meaningful volunteer work is to tap into your own interests and concerns. Maybe you’re a talented quilter. Give lessons at a youth center or nursing home. If you’re worried about dwindling funding for education or the arts, join forces with organizations that support the schools or cultural activities in your community.
If you’re not sure where to begin, consider these suggestions:
- Contact your local United Way to ask about volunteer needs.
- Go online. United We Serve allows you to learn about, sign up for and create service projects. The site is managed by the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency charged with promoting and fostering volunteering and national service in America.
- Read the volunteer listings in your local newspaper or community website.
Volunteering to help others strengthens communities, saves resources and solves problems. There are also personal advantages to helping others. Donating your time and talent to causes that you care about can improve your own health and well-being.
The health benefits of volunteering
Studies show that volunteering can make us healthier, both mentally and physically. People who volunteer at least 100 hours a year (about two hours per week) gain the most from their efforts. Volunteering can help you:
- Connect socially: Volunteering is a great way to meet people who share your values and interests. For military families who are always on the move and readjusting to new places, volunteering can help you make friends and learn about your new community.
- Feel less lonely: Studies show that people who volunteer are less likely to feel lonely and are less prone to depression. That’s due in large part to being around other people. But volunteering can also give a person a sense of purpose, which is helpful in warding off feelings of despair and sadness.
- Lower stress levels and blood pressure: Being around like-minded people and doing meaningful work reduces heart rate and blood pressure. In short, it makes you feel good!
- Be more physically active: Volunteering not only gets you out of the house, but it can get you moving, too. Walking dogs for the local animal shelter, tending the community garden and doing yard work for older adults in your community are all ways you can keep yourself active while helping others.
Find volunteer opportunities that are right for you
The most effective volunteers are those who are truly passionate about what they do. Before you start your search, take some time to think about what you enjoy most. If you love the outdoors, you might connect with a land conservation organization that maintains hiking trails. If animals are your passion, contact a humane society.
Another way to find meaningful volunteer work is to tap into your own interests and concerns. Maybe you’re a talented quilter. Give lessons at a youth center or nursing home. If you’re worried about dwindling funding for education or the arts, join forces with organizations that support the schools or cultural activities in your community.
If you’re not sure where to begin, consider these suggestions:
- Contact your local United Way to ask about volunteer needs.
- Go online. United We Serve allows you to learn about, sign up for and create service projects. The site is managed by the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency charged with promoting and fostering volunteering and national service in America.
- Read the volunteer listings in your local newspaper or community website.