Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Why Volunteering is Really Awesome (and Why You Should Be an Awesome Volunteer)

We all know volunteering is important... don't we?


Think about it.  When was the last time you volunteered? And no, helping your mom wash the dishes doesn't count.  Every year, 61,800,000 people in the US volunteer at one of their local, or global not-for-profits'. After crunching some numbers, that's nearly 20% of the population of the US!   So 1 out of 5 people volunteer in their lifetimes in the US, and I don't know about you, but that doesn't seem like much...

Volunteers at the BOCES garden in Fredonia.


Here in Chautauqua County, there are many non-profit agencies that absolutely depend on those individuals who take a little time out of their lives to help their communities become great places.  The CCRM is one of those agencies who are so grateful for their volunteers that we are nearly bursting at the seems with gratitude!!!  Yes... that really is how happy we are to have all these awesome volunteers that come in and out of the CCRM on a daily, weekly, even yearly basis!

So I would like to talk for a moment about why people volunteer: Why should we take time out of our busy lives of washing our hair, flossing the dog's teeth, and making sure the kids are wearing underwear only to help someone out who we don't even know?


  • REASON 1: The world needs all the help it can get!



  • REASON 2: The economic value of volunteering here in the US?...  $162,000,000!!!  That's a lot of money! Unless you're a millionaire, but honestly... are you really? And if so, you should definitely donate to local charities.



  • REASON 3: It makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Harvard actually did a study on this and bequeathed it, "The Happiness Effect."

Helping others kindles happiness, as many studies have demonstrated. 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. Giving time to religious organizations had the greatest impact.
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.


  • REASON 4: It might get you a job.  Volunteering helps you develop a skill set you may have previously not had which can totally nail you a good job (or at least good reference!).



P.S. Volunteering is also an awesome way to boost your self-confidence, fight depression, keep you in shape, and connect you with other people!!!!! 

"Why not volunteer?" I think is a better question!  There are so many places near you that need the help and all you need to do is give them a call!!!!

P.S.S. Here at the Gleaning Project, we can ALWAYS use help. :)





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