Trending
With most of us leading super busy lives, the idea of volunteering - giving your time and energy to a cause without financial reward - might seem impossible.
I mean, how can we fit anything else into our already-packed schedules? However, volunteering is important for many reasons and doesn't require too much time. And, in fact, the benefits of volunteering are vast for the volunteer - not just the community, individual or organization receiving their assistance.
It's these benefits that could partly explain the rise in popularity of volunteering over the past few years. People are starting to understand how serving and helping others and different communities benefits not just others but us, too.
Volunteering is important as it offers essential help to worthwhile causes, people in need and the wider community. Indeed, many organizations and charities rely on the generosity of volunteers.
Many first responders are volunteers as was evidenced by the 30 companies that battled the blaze of a Milroy business. Firefighters and others left family gatherings and graduation and birthday parties to take the call. Volunteers have manned these companies for years. Now, they're being put to the test due to manpower shortages.
Of course, the benefits of volunteering for those receiving help are clear. Whether it's providing underprivileged children with toys or litter picking by the local highway, the benefits to the receiver and the wider community are usually part of the reason people decide to volunteer in the first place.
But did you realize just how important volunteering can be for the person doing it? Experts believe volunteering is beneficial to the doer for a host of reasons, including stress reduction, combating depression and providing a sense of purpose.
And while studies do show that the more you volunteer, the more benefits you'll experience, volunteering doesn't have to involve a long-term commitment. Giving in simple ways can help those in need and improve your overall health and happiness.
If you're feeling lonely, isolated or simply want to widen your social circle, volunteering in your local community is an important - and often fun - way to meet new people. In fact, one of the best ways to make new friends and strengthen existing relationships is to commit to a shared activity together, and volunteering lets you do just that. In fact, volunteering is an important and interesting way to meet people who you might not normally connect with: people from different age groups, ethnicities or social groups. Because volunteering is open to everyone, it allows you to meet a wide variety of people from all sorts of walks of life, something that can only open your eyes further.