The community needs you.
Volunteering allows you to connect to your community and make it a better place. The problem of homelessness and poverty exists. As a community, we need to lend a hand to individuals and families who are in a less fortunate situation than we are. Hopefully, with a little help, many of them can get to a better place and also give back. It is a cycle of giving that will make our community a better place to live
It connects you to others
People who volunteer care about others. They are the type of people who are worth knowing. Volunteering also broadens your support network, exposing you to people with common interests, neighborhood resources, and fun and fulfilling activities.
Since of accomplishment
Volunteering increases your self-awareness and self-confidence. It can provide a healthy boost to your self-esteem. You feel better about yourself and come away with a sense of pride and accomplishment.
The Happiness Effect
Studies have found that helping others kindles happiness. When researchers at the London School of Economics examined the relationship between volunteering and measures of happiness in a large group of American adults, they found the more people volunteered, the happier they were, according to a study in Social Science and Medicine. Compared with people who never volunteered, the odds of being “very happy” rose 7% among those who volunteer monthly and 12% for people who volunteer every two to four weeks. Among weekly volunteers, 16% felt very happy—a hike in happiness comparable to having an income of $75,000–$100,000 versus $20,000, say the researchers.
Adapted with permission from Simple Changes, Big Rewards: A Practical, Easy Guide for Healthy, Happy Living, a special health report published by Harvard Health Publications. http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/volunteering-may-be-good-for-body-and-mind-201306266428 http://greatist.com/happiness/health-benefits-volunteering
Make a small difference in someone else’s life
Everyone counts! Everyone is important is God’s eyes. When an individual is living on the street or a child is born into poverty, it is natural to feel worthless or invisible. When another person reaches out to make a difference in that person’s life, talks to that person, looks them in the eyes, smiles at them, shows that they care, that person feels less invisible. A small gesture by a volunteer can have a significant impact on another person. It lets them know that they are every bit as valuable and relevant as every other person in our community.
