essay on why volunteering is important

Importance of Volunteerism Essay

Need to write an essay about volunteering? Community service is a truly hot topic! This argumentative essay about the importance of volunteerism contains everything necessary to inspire you!

Introduction

Importance of volunteering.

It is so disappointing that many people within our societies do not know, understand or value the importance of services in the community by volunteering. Serving society is very important in helping to solve many problems, especially those that have been neglected by the government and other social programs.

Volunteering to serve the community is not only beneficial to the individuals involved, but it is necessary in creating better societies for all. For instance, community members may volunteer to clean up a town near them or feeder roads.

This way, all members benefit by living in a clean environment that is free from illnesses related to sanitation. By cleaning the compounds surrounding them, society members help promote the health of their young ones who are always playing, during which time they can eat anything on the ground which would have otherwise caused them serious infections.

Community work does not always revolve around environmental work, but it is equally important for the fortunate members of society to help those who are less fortunate. Community members may volunteer to offer gifts and other services to help the less fortunate ones.

For example, people may contribute goods such as clothes and food to help the street children who have no homes or take them to children’s homes from where they can be provided for. This way, the members of society will have helped others live a more and better comfortable life.

Especially young children will feel the love that they never got from their parents. This is essential in the growth and development of a child, and the assistance and love they receive from society will surely help them grow to be better adults in society (Landry 1).

Volunteer work in our societies basically involves sharing and friendship through which people can find out what others need so that they can work on assisting them in all ways possible. Through volunteer work, many people’s lives are changed, be it through words or material assistance.

For instance, a community may volunteer to help young people addicted to drugs where they organize meetings with them, and doctors or psychiatrists volunteer to talk to them about the effects of drugs as the community helps them avoid the vise by giving them jobs to keep them busy.

Being responsive to the needs of other people makes us realize and appreciate humanity and spiritual being, as well as feeling good for changing someone’s life. This can even help shy people gain self-esteem. Volunteering in society work helps in promoting and building our social obligations as human beings.

Through community volunteer work, people are able to respect each because they work together without any discrimination. Volunteerism can be thought of as a social capital where everyone is concerned for the well-being of others. It also helps create trust and confidence between society members and brings society together (McHenry 1).

A society where people volunteer and work together always faces fewer problems since all the members tend to get along well and support each when they are in need.

The security of society is also improved, especially through the rehabilitation of street children and drug addicts who are more likely to cause insecurity in society. By supporting each other, society members can live in harmony and be happier than those societies that do not work together.

Importance of Volunteering: FAQ

• What Is Volunteer Work? Volunteering is unpaid work done by a person to benefit the community. In other words, volunteering means that someone is giving their time to help an individual, a group of people, or a non-profit organization.
• Why Is Volunteerism Important? Volunteer work develops and improves the community. Besides, it is helpful for the one who deals with it. Volunteering can improve one’s mental health, reduce stress, and give meaning to their life.
• How Does Volunteerism Benefit the Community? Volunteering is related to the need for people to participate in their community and be important to others. Imbued with such values as reciprocity, solidarity, and mutual trust, it significantly improves the quality of life.

Works Cited

Landry, L. “The importance of volunteering.” 2002. Web.

McHenry, W. “ The Importance of Community Service . ” 2000. Web.

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IvyPanda. (2018, May 23). Importance of Volunteerism Essay. https://ivypanda.com/essays/importance-of-volunteerism/

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Bibliography

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Why volunteer?

Benefit 1: volunteering connects you to others, benefit 2: volunteering is good for your mind and body, benefit 3: volunteering can advance your career, benefit 4: volunteering brings fun and fulfillment to your life, how to find the right volunteer opportunity, getting the most out of volunteering, volunteering and its surprising benefits.

Volunteering can help you make friends, learn new skills, advance your career, and even feel happier and healthier. Learn how to find the right volunteer opportunity for you.

With busy lives, it can be hard to find time to volunteer. However, the benefits of volunteering can be enormous. Volunteering offers vital help to people in need, worthwhile causes, and the community, but the benefits can be even greater for you, the volunteer. The right match can help you to find friends, connect with the community, learn new skills, and even advance your career.

Giving to others can also help protect your mental and physical health. It can reduce stress, combat depression, keep you mentally stimulated, and provide a sense of purpose. While it’s true that the more you volunteer, the more benefits you’ll experience, volunteering doesn’t have to involve a long-term commitment or take a huge amount of time out of your busy day. Giving in even simple ways can help those in need and improve your health and happiness.

Benefits of volunteering: 4 ways to feel healthier and happier

• Volunteering connects you to others.
• Volunteering is good for your mind and body.
• Volunteering can advance your career.
• Volunteering brings fun and fulfillment to your life.

One of the more well-known benefits of volunteering is the impact on the community. Volunteering allows you to connect to your community and make it a better place. Even helping out with the smallest tasks can make a real difference to the lives of people, animals, and organizations in need. And volunteering is a two-way street: It can benefit you and your family as much as the cause you choose to help. Dedicating your time as a volunteer helps you make new friends, expand your network, and boost your social skills.

Make new friends and contacts

One of the best ways to make new friends and strengthen existing relationships is to commit to a shared activity together. Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, especially if you are new to an area. It strengthens your ties to the community and broadens your support network, exposing you to people with common interests, neighborhood resources, and fun and fulfilling activities.

Increase your social and relationship skills

While some people are naturally outgoing, others are shy and have a hard time meeting new people. Volunteering gives you the opportunity to practice and develop your social skills, since you are meeting regularly with a group of people with common interests. Once you have momentum, it’s easier to branch out and make more friends and contacts.

Volunteering as a family

Children watch everything you do. By giving back to the community, you’ll show them firsthand how volunteering makes a difference and how good it feels to help other people and animals and enact change. It’s also a valuable way for you to get to know organizations in the community and find resources and activities for your children and family.

Volunteering provides many benefits to both mental and physical health.

Volunteering helps counteract the effects of stress, anger, and anxiety. The social contact aspect of helping and working with others can have a profound effect on your overall psychological well-being. Nothing relieves stress better than a meaningful connection to another person. Working with pets and other animals has also been shown to improve mood and reduce stress and anxiety.

Volunteering combats depression. Volunteering keeps you in regular contact with others and helps you develop a solid support system, which in turn protects you against depression.

Volunteering makes you happy . By measuring hormones and brain activity, researchers have discovered that being helpful to others delivers immense pleasure. Human beings are hard-wired to give to others. The more we give, the happier we feel.

[Read: Cultivating Happiness]

Volunteering increases self-confidence. You are doing good for others and the community, which provides a natural sense of accomplishment. Your role as a volunteer can also give you a sense of pride and identity. And the better you feel about yourself, the more likely you are to have a positive view of your life and future goals.

Volunteering provides a sense of purpose. Older adults, especially those who have retired or lost a spouse, can find new meaning and direction in their lives by helping others. Whatever your age or life situation, volunteering can help take your mind off your own worries, keep you mentally stimulated, and add more zest to your life.

Volunteering helps you stay physically healthy. Studies have found that those who volunteer have a lower mortality rate than those who do not. Older volunteers tend to walk more, find it easier to cope with everyday tasks, are less likely to develop high blood pressure, and have better thinking skills. Volunteering can also lessen symptoms of chronic pain and reduce the risk of heart disease.

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I have limited mobility—can I still volunteer?

People with disabilities or chronic health conditions can still benefit greatly from volunteering. In fact, research has shown that adults with disabilities or health conditions ranging from hearing and vision loss to heart disease, diabetes or digestive disorders all show improvement after volunteering.

Whether due to a disability, a lack of transportation, or time constraints, many people choose to volunteer their time via phone or computer. In today’s digital age, many organizations need help with writing, graphic design, email, and other web-based tasks. Some organizations may require you to attend an initial training session or periodical meetings while others can be conducted completely remotely. In any volunteer situation, make sure that you are getting enough social contact, and that the organization is available to support you should you have questions.

If you’re considering a new career, volunteering can help you get experience in your area of interest and meet people in the field. Even if you’re not planning on changing careers, volunteering gives you the opportunity to practice important skills used in the workplace, such as teamwork, communication, problem solving, project planning, task management, and organization. You might feel more comfortable stretching your wings at work once you’ve honed these skills in a volunteer position first.

Teaching you valuable job skills

Just because volunteer work is unpaid does not mean the skills you learn are basic. Many volunteering opportunities provide extensive training. For example, you could become an experienced crisis counselor while volunteering for a women’s shelter or a knowledgeable art historian while donating your time as a museum docent.

[Read: Finding the Right Career]

Volunteering can also help you build upon skills you already have and use them to benefit the greater community. For instance, if you hold a successful sales position, you can raise awareness for your favorite cause as a volunteer advocate, while further developing and improving your public speaking, communication, and marketing skills.

Gaining career experience

Volunteering offers you the chance to try out a new career without making a long-term commitment. It is also a great way to gain experience in a new field. In some fields, you can volunteer directly at an organization that does the kind of work you’re interested in. For example, if you’re interested in nursing, you could volunteer at a hospital or a nursing home.

Your volunteer work might also expose you to professional organizations or internships that could benefit your career.

When it comes to volunteering, passion and positivity are the only requirements

While learning new skills can be beneficial to many, it’s not a requirement for a fulfilling volunteer experience. Bear in mind that the most valuable assets you can bring to any volunteer effort are compassion, an open mind, a willingness to pitch in wherever needed, and a positive attitude.

Volunteering is a fun and easy way to explore your interests and passions. Doing volunteer work you find meaningful and interesting can be a relaxing, energizing escape from your day-to-day routine of work, school, or family commitments. Volunteering also provides you with renewed creativity, motivation, and vision that can carry over into your personal and professional life.

[Read: Building Better Mental Health]

Many people volunteer in order to make time for hobbies outside of work as well. For instance, if you have a desk job and long to spend time outdoors, you might consider volunteering to help plant a community garden, walk dogs for an animal shelter, or help out at a children’s camp.

There are numerous volunteer opportunities available. The key is to find a position that you would enjoy and are capable of doing. It’s also important to make sure that your commitment matches the organization’s needs. Ask yourself the following:

• Would you like to work with adults, children, animals, or remotely from home?
• Do you prefer to work alone or as part of a team?
• Are you better behind the scenes or do you prefer to take a more visible role?
• How much time are you willing to commit?
• What skills can you bring to a volunteer job?
• What causes are important to you?

Consider your interests

You will have a richer and more enjoyable volunteering experience if you first take some time to identify your goals and interests. Think about why you want to volunteer. What would you enjoy doing? The opportunities that match both your goals and your interests are most likely to be fun and fulfilling.

What are your volunteering goals?

To find a volunteer position that’s right for you, look for something that matches your personality, skills, and interests. Ask yourself if there is something specific you want to do or achieve as a volunteer.

For example, you might want to:

• Improve your neighborhood.
• Meet new people with different outlooks or experiences.
• Try something new.
• Do something rewarding with your spare time.
• See new places or experience a different way of living.
• Try a new type of work that you might want to pursue as a full-time job.
• Expand on your interests and hobbies.

Consider several volunteer possibilities

Don’t limit yourself to just one organization or one specific type of job. Sometimes an opportunity looks great on paper, but the reality is quite different. Try to visit different organizations and get a feel for what they are like and if you click with other staff and volunteers.

Where to find volunteer opportunities

• Community theaters, museums, and monuments.
• Libraries or senior centers.
• Service organizations such as Lions Clubs or Rotary Clubs.
• Local animal shelters, rescue organizations, or wildlife centers.
• Youth organizations, sports teams, and after-school programs.
• Historical restorations, national parks, and conservation organizations.
• Places of worship such as churches or synagogues.
• Online directories and other resources (see below).

How much time should you volunteer?

Volunteering doesn’t have to take over your life to be beneficial. In fact, research shows that just two to three hours per week, or about 100 hours a year, can confer the most benefits—to both you and your chosen cause. The important thing is to volunteer only the amount of time that feels comfortable to you. Volunteering should feel like a fun and rewarding hobby, not another chore on your to-do list.

You’re donating your valuable time, so it’s important that you enjoy and benefit from your volunteering. To make sure that your volunteer position is a good fit:

Ask questions. You want to make sure that the experience is right for your skills, your goals, and the time you want to spend. Sample questions for your volunteer coordinator might address your time commitment, if there’s any training involved, who you will be working with, and what to do if you have questions during your experience.

Make sure you know what’s expected. You should be comfortable with the organization and understand the time commitment. Consider starting small so that you don’t over commit yourself at first. Give yourself some flexibility to change your focus if needed.

Don’t be afraid to make a change. Don’t force yourself into a bad fit or feel compelled to stick with a volunteer role you dislike. Talk to the organization about changing your focus or look for a different organization that’s a better fit.

If volunteering overseas, choose carefully. Some volunteer programs abroad can cause more harm than good if they take much-needed paying jobs away from local workers. Look for volunteer opportunities with reputable organizations.

Enjoy yourself. The best volunteer experiences benefit both the volunteer and the organization. If you’re not enjoying yourself, ask yourself why. Is it the tasks you’re performing? The people you’re working with? Or are you uncomfortable simply because the situation is new and unfamiliar? Pinpointing what’s bothering you can help you decide how to proceed.

VolunteerMatch  – Find opportunities that match your volunteer interests, from location to type of work. (VolunteerMatch)

Idealist  – Find volunteer opportunities in your local area or internationally. (Idealist)

National and Community Service  – Federal organization offering volunteer positions across the U.S. (National Service)

Volunteer  – Directory of environmental volunteer opportunities. (Volunteer.gov)

U.S. Peace Corps  – Offers volunteer opportunities overseas and includes a  50 Plus  division. (Peace Corps)

American Red Cross  – Volunteer in any of the Red Cross’s key service areas. (Red Cross)

More Information

• Simple Changes, Big Rewards - A Practical, Easy Guide for Healthy, Happy Living. (Harvard Medical School Special Health Report)
• The Health Benefits of Volunteering: Recent Research (PDF) - Research on the benefits of volunteering, especially for seniors. (Corporation for National and Community Service)
• The many ways volunteering is good for your heart - Includes resources for finding volunteer positions. (Harvard Health Publications)
• 10 Tips on Volunteering Wisely - Tips to make the most of your volunteering experience. (Network for Good)
• Carr, D. C., Kail, B. L., & Rowe, J. W. (2018). The Relation of Volunteering and Subsequent Changes in Physical Disability in Older Adults. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B , 73(3), 511–521. Link
• Kim, E. S., Whillans, A. V., Lee, M. T., Chen, Y., & VanderWeele, T. J. (2020). Volunteering and Subsequent Health and Well-Being in Older Adults: An Outcome-Wide Longitudinal Approach. American Journal of Preventive Medicine , 59(2), 176–186. Link
• Lawton, R. N., Gramatki, I., Watt, W., & Fujiwara, D. (2021). Does Volunteering Make Us Happier, or Are Happier People More Likely to Volunteer? Addressing the Problem of Reverse Causality When Estimating the Wellbeing Impacts of Volunteering. Journal of Happiness Studie , 22(2), 599–624. Link
• Okun, M. A., Yeung, E. W., & Brown, S. (2013). Volunteering by older adults and risk of mortality: A meta-analysis. Psychology and Aging , 28(2), 564–577. Link
• Salt, E., Crofford, L. J., & Segerstrom, S. (2017). The Mediating and Moderating Effect of Volunteering on Pain and Depression, Life Purpose, Well-Being, and Physical Activity. Pain Management Nursing , 18(4), 243–249. Link

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From Passion to Action: The Joy of Volunteerism and how it Elevated my Career

• Post author: admin
• Post published: December 4, 2015
• Post category: Uncategorized

By: Dr. Jonas Nguh

We see people volunteering all the time. Whether they’re visiting the elderly, delivering meals, stuffing envelopes and more. It’s obvious that volunteering helps an individual, group or organization. But let’s face it—volunteering also helps volunteers themselves. When asked the question “Why do you volunteer?” Many people refer to the old adage, “Doing good is its own reward”. Many state the main reason they volunteer is because it makes them feel good. They speak of giving back for all the blessings they’ve been given in life. Some volunteer because they are able to, and they want to help people less able. Others speak of paying it forward—doing good things so that if they are in need, someone might help them. Other more insightful and philosophical reasons are: giving hope and inspiration to those in need; showing people that there are others who care about them; and showing that there can be something good that comes out of an unfortunate situation.

While these are valid and practical reasons, they do not go far enough. The process of volunteering itself enables the individual to gain experience that they may not get elsewhere, such as building their confidence and self-esteem. Two innate qualities that motivate someone to volunteer are — an attitude to learn and experience new things, and a willingness to share one’s experiences and knowledge. Volunteering gives you a lot in return. It is all about the joy of making a difference on the one side, while receiving immense value on the other from the experience of volunteering, meeting people and learning something new.

My passion for volunteering rose out of my deep interest in networking and interacting with others to solve problems. I wanted to collaborate with peers and thus develop my sphere of influence over a period of time. From my own experience, I must say that the success of volunteering is directly proportional to the time spent on improving upon the lessons learnt. I started my volunteering journey through affiliation with local professional networks . This gave me the opportunity to meet my peers, who are involved in addressing common issues and moving an agenda forward. I also learnt that the route to learning is to listen and absorb rather than talk and convey one’s viewpoints. From these network associations, I learned about and acquired Fellow status in various professional associations that would help catapult my career and increase my professional visibility and credibility; Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), Distinguished Scholar & Fellow of the National Academies of Practice (FNAP), Nurse Executive- Advanced, Board Certified (ANCC).

This brings to mind the words of Gandhiji who said “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” There are many wonderful things that will never be done if you do not do them, and volunteering for me, is one such thing. Volunteering has helped me gain sound technical knowledge of relevant issues, helped me perfect my soft skills, gain confidence and credibility to make a good professional impact. Volunteering offered me the opportunity to extend my knowledgebase, to influence the direction of an organization/project, to network with other professionals & business leaders, and, perhaps most important, to have an impact on the next generation. Volunteering, be it to serve a term on a board/council, write an article or a chapter for a textbook, be a presenter or speaker at an industry meeting naturally requires additional time from one’s already busy schedule. For me, though, the benefits from doing so have outweighed the efforts in that it increased my awareness of professional matters as well as being a great way to network with my peers.

I joined the Education Committee of the National Blood Clot Alliance, out of a desire to improve education on this topic and a desire to develop relationships outside of my own organization. Having always had a passion for patient education, volunteering for the Education Committee enabled me to indulge that passion and brought me in contact with many other healthcare professionals many of whom are top leaders in the profession. Volunteering to me is a great way to stay current, improve my skills, expand tool sets, and gain exposure to “a broader set of topics than one may get in their current job.” .

Today, more than 20 years later, when asked the reason I initially decided to volunteer and why I continue to do so, my reasons have expanded to include the following:

Travel opportunities Sheer enjoyment of the work Joy of working with a Group of talented professionals. Maintain relationships and making new friends Networking opportunities Keeping up with practice Giving back to the profession Making a difference in the education of future healthcare professionals Years after initially volunteering, I find that the need to make a difference still matters, but it is the joy of the work and, especially, the people we meet that sustain us in our volunteer efforts. Many of the individuals that I have had the pleasure of serving with are exceptionally talented people. They care deeply about their work, and they challenge me to be my best. I have volunteered for multiple organizations, and the people I’ve met are some of the most dedicated individuals it has ever been my pleasure to know. Volunteers are individuals who have found a passion, a purpose, in their volunteer work. Through their work, they derive a sense of well-being or personal satisfaction. In short, they have found their bliss. So let me ask you. What is your passion? What is your bliss? How will you affect the lives of future generations? Whatever it is, volunteer or support it in whatever way you are able. You’ll be glad you did.

What You Gain

Leadership skills, such as agenda planning, delegating, strategic planning, decision making, and managing virtual teams Collaboration and communication skills, such as brainstorming, negotiating, and developing presentations Competitive advantage, by working on key issues facing the profession Important connections, through professional networking Direct, hands-on experience, in a controlled, supportive environment Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credit for certain volunteer activities

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What Is Volunteerism? A Guide to the History & Benefits

The Buyer’s Guide to Volunteer Management Software

Many people all over the world face different challenges and problems. These issues include climate-related disasters, diseases, poverty, and other problems that present major roadblocks to peace and prosperity. This is why volunteerism has played such a major role throughout history.

In this guide, we’ll take a broad look at volunteerism to explore its history and benefits. Then, we’ll review how your organization can promote volunteerism in your community and manage volunteers effectively. We’ll cover:

Volunteerism definition

History of volunteerism, types of volunteerism, why is volunteerism important, how to incentivize volunteerism.

At its core, volunteerism is the  engagement  and mobilization of groups of people to support others or fight for a worthwhile cause. Volunteer programs take place worldwide, and volunteer help has improved the lives of many. Let’s take a closer look at this phenomenon!

Volunteerism is the act of contributing free labor to conduct community service or support a nonprofit organization. It is the principle of donating time and energy towards a greater cause. Volunteers help change the lives of those in their community as a social responsibility rather than receiving a financial reward.

Volunteering is important because it enables people to help and serve others in a selfless way. When individuals take the initiative to help people in the community and support philanthropic causes, it can improve the community as a whole by creating tighter bonds and forming lasting relationships. Plus, nonprofit organizations can utilize these groups of passionate volunteers to help achieve goals in making the world a better and safer place.

Today, volunteering is recognized as a highly effective form of giving, but how did it all begin? There is a fascinating history  behind how a simple act of kindness became so popular around the world.

Volunteering has been traced back to Britain in medieval times where there was an urge to aid the poor and sick.

In the 19th century, organized forms of volunteering start to pick up steam, such as the YMCA , which began in 1844 in London. The 20th century saw the birth of many more voluntary organizations committed to making a positive impact. One example is the Rotary Club, which was formed as a place for people of different backgrounds, cultures, and beliefs to come together and exchange valuable ideas, create friendships, and make a change.

The internet has provided the greatest boost yet to the popularity of volunteering. The internet allows people to communicate with others from all around the world, spreading awareness of volunteering without having any restrictions due to physical barriers. This has contributed to the growth of volunteering.

Offering virtual volunteer opportunities helps many nonprofit organizations connect with new audiences and grow their reach beyond their local communities.

Now, with the help of  volunteer management software , organizations can build even more bridges to connect with their volunteers, enhancing their engagement with a variety of different tools and features to make the volunteering journey run as smoothly as possible.

See why nonprofits love our volunteer management software!

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Volunteerism has a long and storied history, in both the United States and the world as a whole. Let’s take a look at some fun facts about the history of volunteerism:

• The verb “volunteer” first  originated in 1755 .
• Volunteerism in the United States stems all the way back to the  Revolutionary War  when civilians chipped in to support the war effort.
• The American Red Cross, one of the most influential humanitarian organizations in the world, was  founded by Clara Barton in 1881 .
• The Great Depression saw a  mass mobilization of volunteers  to assist the unemployed and impoverished.
• 64.4 million American adults  contributed volunteer hours in 2017.
• According to the  US Census Bureau , the top four national volunteer activities in the U.S. are fundraising or selling items to raise money (36%), preparing or distributing food (34%), collecting and distributing goods or clothing (26.5%), and mentoring youths (26%).

Hopefully, this provided you with some great knowledge on the history of volunteerism!

There are many different types and forms of volunteerism, and anyone can be a volunteer. That’s one of the best things about volunteering; there are a variety of ways for individuals to make an impact according to their interests and skills.

As a volunteer coordinator, it’s important to learn about the different types of volunteerism so you can learn more about your pool of prospective volunteers. For instance, if you help recruit volunteers for a school, you must understand what type of volunteers you need and how to connect with them.

Let’s take a look at some of the different volunteer types to give you a better understanding of where volunteers come from and what types of skills they bring to the table.

Corporate volunteerism  involves employees contributing their time and talents to assist nonprofits and other charitable organizations. Businesses often promote corporate volunteerism among their employees by offering paid time off to volunteer or volunteer grants.  Volunteer grants are a type of corporate philanthropy initiative that involve businesses contributing donations to nonprofit organizations after their employees have volunteered with those organizations for a certain amount of time.

Many students are required to volunteer for a certain number of hours to fulfill requirements for their classes or clubs. In addition, many high school and college students participate in service-learning projects, which combine elements of education and volunteerism. These opportunities teach students valuable skills while allowing them to contribute their time and energy to help worthy causes.

School based

Schools often rely on volunteer support to care for their students. Many schools have parent-teacher associations (PTAs), which are alliances between parents and school staff members to complete projects that benefit students. Volunteers also contribute in other roles such as helping with after-school programs or chaperoning field trips.

These volunteers can be anyone looking to help out and contribute their time and efforts to improve their community. This can include those who volunteer at food banks, hospitals, animal shelters, nature centers, and any other community organizations.

With the rise of online volunteer opportunities, virtual volunteerism is growing in popularity. Virtual volunteerism offers a safer alternative to in-person activities during the pandemic, and it offers convenience to volunteers because they can work from home. Anyone with an internet connection can be a virtual volunteer.

Emergency relief

Emergency or disaster relief volunteers come into play after a major, devastating event, such as an earthquake or hurricane. These volunteers offer healthcare services, clean up services, and other forms of support during an emergency, such as passing out food, water, and other supplies.

Many volunteers choose to help out with major events, such as concerts, festivals, conferences, and nonprofit fundraisers. You may need a larger team for these types of events.

No matter what type of volunteering your organization offers, ensure you provide your volunteers with constant support and encouragement! Your volunteers make a major difference in your community and deserve to be recognized for their contributions.

Volunteers offer crucial support during times of crisis and times of peace. Certain organizations, such as many nonprofits, wouldn’t be able to remain in operation without the help of volunteers. Plus, volunteer time is incredibly valuable—the estimated value of each volunteer hour  contributed in the United States is $28.54!

Volunteerism doesn’t just offer benefits to nonprofits and other community organizations. It also benefits volunteers themselves. Volunteering is linked to  improved mental and physical health outcomes . It can also offer other benefits like:

• Strengthening communities after a crisis.  As a volunteer manager, you know the importance of building a better community with the help of your volunteers! Your volunteers are dedicated to offering their time and skills to support your organization, even during crises. Volunteering after a crisis can help bring the community together and lend a helping hand to those who need it most. This can help build a stronger, more resilient community in the long run.
• Teaching volunteers valuable life skills. Volunteering allows participants to gain new skills and knowledge in areas that interest them most. They can network with new people and practice important skills that can be helpful in the workplace. Volunteers can develop leadership skills, project planning skills, and task management skills. Plus, volunteer positions look great on volunteers’ resumes and will help them prepare for any future opportunities.

The ultimate resource for crafting a rewarding volunteer experience

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• Gain new knowledge.  Your volunteer programs can create opportunities to bring like-minded people together and learn from those who come from different walks of life. This is an excellent way to expand your volunteers’ understanding of others who come from diverse backgrounds. It also helps you, as a volunteer manager, to learn along the way as well!
• Boost donations.  Offering an effective volunteer program where your volunteers are motivated, happy, and engaged can help you boost donations and get volunteers more involved in your nonprofit’s mission. When volunteers have a great experience, they’ll be much more likely to contribute monetary donations alongside the gift of their time and energy.

Offering incentives is a great way to increase morale and participation. Incentives can go a long way in making your volunteers feel encouraged to continue volunteering with your organization.

• Make it easy for volunteers to find your opportunities and register.  Get your opportunities in front of the right audience with a strong marketing strategy. Use your  volunteer management system  to offer a streamlined sign-up process for new volunteers.
• Offer tangible benefits.  Promote the things that set your volunteer program apart, such as the benefits you offer participants. These benefits might include valuable training opportunities, leadership development, social/networking events, or free merchandise, such as t-shirts.
• Make your volunteer program inclusive.  Reduce volunteers’ barriers to participation by making your opportunities as  inclusive as possible . Prioritize the accessibility of your in-person and virtual events and reach out to volunteers to ask how you can help make your opportunities more accessible and convenient.
• Say thank you often.  Let volunteers know how much you appreciate their support by sending frequent thank you emails and letters. Check out this guide to  volunteer appreciation tips  for more ideas.

These are all effective ways to make your volunteers feel special! From offering a seamless registration process to giving tangible incentives and expressing appreciation for your volunteers’ hard work, there are plenty of ways to ensure your volunteers feel content and satisfied.

In conclusion

Now that you’ve explored what volunteerism is, its history, the different types of volunteerism, and why it’s important, it’s time to start brainstorming how you can provide an excellent experience for your volunteers that they will remember for a lifetime! Remember, using an efficient  volunteer management solution  is the best way to continue promoting volunteerism and managing volunteers effectively. These platforms help grow your reach, increase volunteer retention, and even help you transform volunteers into donors using inspiring outreach campaigns.

When your volunteers enjoy their time volunteering with your organization, they’ll want to continue putting their best foot forward and donating their time. This is why it’s essential to plan out your volunteer program effectively and offer the type of experience your supporters are looking for. Good luck!

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, how to write a great community service essay.

College Admissions , Extracurriculars

Are you applying to a college or a scholarship that requires a community service essay? Do you know how to write an essay that will impress readers and clearly show the impact your work had on yourself and others?

Read on to learn step-by-step instructions for writing a great community service essay that will help you stand out and be memorable.

What Is a Community Service Essay? Why Do You Need One?

A community service essay is an essay that describes the volunteer work you did and the impact it had on you and your community. Community service essays can vary widely depending on specific requirements listed in the application, but, in general, they describe the work you did, why you found the work important, and how it benefited people around you.

Community service essays are typically needed for two reasons:

#1: To Apply to College

• Some colleges require students to write community service essays as part of their application or to be eligible for certain scholarships.
• You may also choose to highlight your community service work in your personal statement.

#2: To Apply for Scholarships

• Some scholarships are specifically awarded to students with exceptional community service experiences, and many use community service essays to help choose scholarship recipients.
• Green Mountain College offers one of the most famous of these scholarships. Their "Make a Difference Scholarship" offers full tuition, room, and board to students who have demonstrated a significant, positive impact through their community service

Getting Started With Your Essay

In the following sections, I'll go over each step of how to plan and write your essay. I'll also include sample excerpts for you to look through so you can get a better idea of what readers are looking for when they review your essay.

Step 1: Know the Essay Requirements

Before your start writing a single word, you should be familiar with the essay prompt. Each college or scholarship will have different requirements for their essay, so make sure you read these carefully and understand them.

Specific things to pay attention to include:

• Length requirement
• Application deadline
• The main purpose or focus of the essay
• If the essay should follow a specific structure

Below are three real community service essay prompts. Read through them and notice how much they vary in terms of length, detail, and what information the writer should include.

From the Equitable Excellence Scholarship:

"Describe your outstanding achievement in depth and provide the specific planning, training, goals, and steps taken to make the accomplishment successful. Include details about your role and highlight leadership you provided. Your essay must be a minimum of 350 words but not more than 600 words."

From the Laura W. Bush Traveling Scholarship:

"Essay (up to 500 words, double spaced) explaining your interest in being considered for the award and how your proposed project reflects or is related to both UNESCO's mandate and U.S. interests in promoting peace by sharing advances in education, science, culture, and communications."

From the LULAC National Scholarship Fund:

"Please type or print an essay of 300 words (maximum) on how your academic studies will contribute to your personal & professional goals. In addition, please discuss any community service or extracurricular activities you have been involved in that relate to your goals."

Step 2: Brainstorm Ideas

Even after you understand what the essay should be about, it can still be difficult to begin writing. Answer the following questions to help brainstorm essay ideas. You may be able to incorporate your answers into your essay.

• What community service activity that you've participated in has meant the most to you?
• What is your favorite memory from performing community service?
• Why did you decide to begin community service?
• What made you decide to volunteer where you did?
• How has your community service changed you?
• How has your community service helped others?
• How has your community service affected your plans for the future?

You don't need to answer all the questions, but if you find you have a lot of ideas for one of two of them, those may be things you want to include in your essay.

Writing Your Essay

How you structure your essay will depend on the requirements of the scholarship or school you are applying to. You may give an overview of all the work you did as a volunteer, or highlight a particularly memorable experience. You may focus on your personal growth or how your community benefited.

Regardless of the specific structure requested, follow the guidelines below to make sure your community service essay is memorable and clearly shows the impact of your work.

Samples of mediocre and excellent essays are included below to give you a better idea of how you should draft your own essay.

Step 1: Hook Your Reader In

You want the person reading your essay to be interested, so your first sentence should hook them in and entice them to read more. A good way to do this is to start in the middle of the action. Your first sentence could describe you helping build a house, releasing a rescued animal back to the wild, watching a student you tutored read a book on their own, or something else that quickly gets the reader interested. This will help set your essay apart and make it more memorable.

Compare these two opening sentences:

"I have volunteered at the Wishbone Pet Shelter for three years."

"The moment I saw the starving, mud-splattered puppy brought into the shelter with its tail between its legs, I knew I'd do whatever I could to save it."

The first sentence is a very general, bland statement. The majority of community service essays probably begin a lot like it, but it gives the reader little information and does nothing to draw them in. On the other hand, the second sentence begins immediately with action and helps persuade the reader to keep reading so they can learn what happened to the dog.

Step 2: Discuss the Work You Did

Once you've hooked your reader in with your first sentence, tell them about your community service experiences. State where you work, when you began working, how much time you've spent there, and what your main duties include. This will help the reader quickly put the rest of the essay in context and understand the basics of your community service work.

Not including basic details about your community service could leave your reader confused.

Step 3: Include Specific Details

It's the details of your community service that make your experience unique and memorable, so go into the specifics of what you did.

For example, don't just say you volunteered at a nursing home; talk about reading Mrs. Johnson her favorite book, watching Mr. Scott win at bingo, and seeing the residents play games with their grandchildren at the family day you organized. Try to include specific activities, moments, and people in your essay. Having details like these let the readers really understand what work you did and how it differs from other volunteer experiences.

Compare these two passages:

"For my volunteer work, I tutored children at a local elementary school. I helped them improve their math skills and become more confident students."

"As a volunteer at York Elementary School, I worked one-on-one with second and third graders who struggled with their math skills, particularly addition, subtraction, and fractions. As part of my work, I would create practice problems and quizzes and try to connect math to the students' interests. One of my favorite memories was when Sara, a student I had been working with for several weeks, told me that she enjoyed the math problems I had created about a girl buying and selling horses so much that she asked to help me create math problems for other students."

The first passage only gives basic information about the work done by the volunteer; there is very little detail included, and no evidence is given to support her claims. How did she help students improve their math skills? How did she know they were becoming more confident?

The second passage is much more detailed. It recounts a specific story and explains more fully what kind of work the volunteer did, as well as a specific instance of a student becoming more confident with her math skills. Providing more detail in your essay helps support your claims as well as make your essay more memorable and unique.

Step 4: Show Your Personality

It would be very hard to get a scholarship or place at a school if none of your readers felt like they knew much about you after finishing your essay, so make sure that your essay shows your personality. The way to do this is to state your personal strengths, then provide examples to support your claims. Take some time to think about which parts of your personality you would like your essay to highlight, then write about specific examples to show this.

• If you want to show that you're a motivated leader, describe a time when you organized an event or supervised other volunteers.
• If you want to show your teamwork skills, write about a time you helped a group of people work together better.
• If you want to show that you're a compassionate animal lover, write about taking care of neglected shelter animals and helping each of them find homes.

Step 5: State What You Accomplished

After you have described your community service and given specific examples of your work, you want to begin to wrap your essay up by stating your accomplishments. What was the impact of your community service? Did you build a house for a family to move into? Help students improve their reading skills? Clean up a local park? Make sure the impact of your work is clear; don't be worried about bragging here.

If you can include specific numbers, that will also strengthen your essay. Saying "I delivered meals to 24 home-bound senior citizens" is a stronger example than just saying "I delivered meals to lots of senior citizens."

Also be sure to explain why your work matters. Why is what you did important? Did it provide more parks for kids to play in? Help students get better grades? Give people medical care who would otherwise not have gotten it? This is an important part of your essay, so make sure to go into enough detail that your readers will know exactly what you accomplished and how it helped your community.

"My biggest accomplishment during my community service was helping to organize a family event at the retirement home. The children and grandchildren of many residents attended, and they all enjoyed playing games and watching movies together."

"The community service accomplishment that I'm most proud of is the work I did to help organize the First Annual Family Fun Day at the retirement home. My job was to design and organize fun activities that senior citizens and their younger relatives could enjoy. The event lasted eight hours and included ten different games, two performances, and a movie screening with popcorn. Almost 200 residents and family members attended throughout the day. This event was important because it provided an opportunity for senior citizens to connect with their family members in a way they aren't often able to. It also made the retirement home seem more fun and enjoyable to children, and we have seen an increase in the number of kids coming to visit their grandparents since the event."

The second passage is stronger for a variety of reasons. First, it goes into much more detail about the work the volunteer did. The first passage only states that she helped "organize a family event." That really doesn't tell readers much about her work or what her responsibilities were. The second passage is much clearer; her job was to "design and organize fun activities."

The second passage also explains the event in more depth. A family day can be many things; remember that your readers are likely not familiar with what you're talking about, so details help them get a clearer picture.

Lastly, the second passage makes the importance of the event clear: it helped residents connect with younger family members, and it helped retirement homes seem less intimidating to children, so now some residents see their grand kids more often.

Step 6: Discuss What You Learned

One of the final things to include in your essay should be the impact that your community service had on you. You can discuss skills you learned, such as carpentry, public speaking, animal care, or another skill.

You can also talk about how you changed personally. Are you more patient now? More understanding of others? Do you have a better idea of the type of career you want? Go into depth about this, but be honest. Don't say your community service changed your life if it didn't because trite statements won't impress readers.

In order to support your statements, provide more examples. If you say you're more patient now, how do you know this? Do you get less frustrated while playing with your younger siblings? Are you more willing to help group partners who are struggling with their part of the work? You've probably noticed by now that including specific examples and details is one of the best ways to create a strong and believable essay .

"As a result of my community service, I learned a lot about building houses and became a more mature person."

"As a result of my community service, I gained hands-on experience in construction. I learned how to read blueprints, use a hammer and nails, and begin constructing the foundation of a two-bedroom house. Working on the house could be challenging at times, but it taught me to appreciate the value of hard work and be more willing to pitch in when I see someone needs help. My dad has just started building a shed in our backyard, and I offered to help him with it because I know from my community service how much work it is. I also appreciate my own house more, and I know how lucky I am to have a roof over my head."

The second passage is more impressive and memorable because it describes the skills the writer learned in more detail and recounts a specific story that supports her claim that her community service changed her and made her more helpful.

Step 7: Finish Strong

Just as you started your essay in a way that would grab readers' attention, you want to finish your essay on a strong note as well. A good way to end your essay is to state again the impact your work had on you, your community, or both. Reiterate how you changed as a result of your community service, why you found the work important, or how it helped others.

Compare these two concluding statements:

"In conclusion, I learned a lot from my community service at my local museum, and I hope to keep volunteering and learning more about history."

"To conclude, volunteering at my city's American History Museum has been a great experience. By leading tours and participating in special events, I became better at public speaking and am now more comfortable starting conversations with people. In return, I was able to get more community members interested in history and our local museum. My interest in history has deepened, and I look forward to studying the subject in college and hopefully continuing my volunteer work at my university's own museum."

The second passage takes each point made in the first passage and expands upon it. In a few sentences, the second passage is able to clearly convey what work the volunteer did, how she changed, and how her volunteer work benefited her community.

The author of the second passage also ends her essay discussing her future and how she'd like to continue her community service, which is a good way to wrap things up because it shows your readers that you are committed to community service for the long-term.

What's Next?

Are you applying to a community service scholarship or thinking about it? We have a complete list of all the community service scholarships available to help get your search started!

Do you need a community service letter as well? We have a step-by-step guide that will tell you how to get a great reference letter from your community service supervisor.

Thinking about doing community service abroad? Before you sign up, read our guide on some of the hazards of international volunteer trips and how to know if it's the right choice for you.

Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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Why Volunteering in Your Community is Important

Why is volunteering and giving back to the community important? Simply put, volunteering your time and knowledge will benefit the organization and help make a positive impact in your community. Yet, without a monetary baseline to measure contributions, some may not bother to provide their time, while others may not volunteer simply because no one asked .

But the contributions you make as a volunteer hold greater importance and help the community more than you may know.

Why is volunteering important?

The benefits of serving others includes finding a sense of purpose, broadening your support network and learning new skills. Community work looks great on your resume, too!

But you also want to know that your efforts truly make a difference. The good news is, contributing your time helps lead to positive outcomes that rapidly scale throughout the nonprofit organization and into society. Here’s how:

1. Volunteering helps the organization.

When you think of charitable organizations, you might think of well-moneyed foundations and endowments. Yet most charitable organizations are smaller and local, including:

• Food banks, soup kitchens and homeless shelters
• Programs for veterans and their families
• Education and youth programs
• Environmental conservation groups
• Animal welfare organizations

These local groups are often underfunded and understaffed. What’s more, data on charitable giving shows that donation rates have not kept up with inflation and decline further during economic downturns.

One of the most significant reasons volunteering is important is it provides the nonprofit with cost-effective manpower. It also gives the organization the opportunity to amplify workplace diversity of talent, whether you help out as a food-provider, receptionist, digital marketing expert, IT specialist, event coordinator, fundraiser or as legal counsel. Just as with any company, a 501(c)(3) benefits greatly from these skills and others, ensuring that the nonprofit can serve those in need.

Similarly, your time commitment plays a crucial role in fostering innovation. Too often, nonprofits fall behind in such critical matters as digital outreach for fundraising. Fresh perspectives from volunteers spark new ideas and approaches, allowing nonprofits to survive and thrive. Lending your talents as an influencer or social media expert can take an organization to the next level.

Your time also enhances an organization’s reputation and credibility. A strong community base demonstrates support and commitment to the organization’s cause. Whether you are a high-profile businessperson or an assistant within a respected company, your commitment can help attract donors, partners, stakeholders and overall public support.

In summary, giving back to the community is important because it helps the organization by:

• Providing cost-effective manpower, essential for budget-limited organizations
• Offering a diversity of skills and perspectives
• Fostering innovation with fresh ideas and adaptive approaches
• Enhancing the organization’s reputation and credibility

2. Your unpaid time pays community dividends.

A major benefit of giving back to your community is that you get to experience the impact you make firsthand.

As a volunteer, you facilitate the delivery of essential services in areas of scarcity. Volunteers fill gaps, providing essential support for charitable events, educational programs and emergency relief. Your involvement brings immediate and tangible results that you can experience with pride and gratification.

In that process, your efforts foster a sense of community. By working together toward common goals, you help build mutual understanding and respect within your community. As these communal networks grow stronger, community ties of trust and cooperation emerge, promoting social responsibility in your area.

Local contributors provide a catalyst for positive change. As a volunteer, you identify community needs and help mobilize resources to address them at ground level. The impact made leads to improved living conditions and greater community empowerment. Your help as a volunteer encourages others to participate in civic activities, thus nurturing a culture of active citizenship and community responsibility.

In summary, volunteering is important because it benefits your local community by:

• Delivering essential services and filling resource gaps
• Fostering unity and mutual understanding among diverse community members
• Acting as a catalyst for community development and change
• Encouraging active citizenship and community responsibility

3. Giving back is important for society.

Building a positive society is like building a better life or career. Transformational change takes one small step at a time, but soon you’re moving in great leaps and bounds. Likewise, your voluntary efforts hold their own virality. The impact you make can ripple from your community to the broader regional, national and even global society.

Your individual effort also promotes social inclusion and buy-in by bridging gaps between different societal groups. It provides opportunities for marginalized individuals to participate in activities that they might otherwise feel excluded from, fostering a more inclusive society. This sense of civic engagement leads to a more informed and active citizenry, so vital to a robust democracy.

Additionally, the skills and experience gained through volunteering help you become more employable. Remember when we mentioned how volunteerism looks good on a resume? Employability is not a purely selfish desire. Those who gain experience through unpaid opportunities learn new skills that enhance and broaden economic opportunities at a societal level without government assistance. It’s no wonder Microsoft commits to the nonprofit sector along with so many other major companies.

In summary, giving back to the community is important because it benefits society by:

• Enhancing social welfare and reducing the burden on government services
• Promoting social inclusion and bridging social gaps
• Encouraging civic engagement and a more active citizenry
• Providing economic benefits through improved employability

Where can I find local volunteer opportunities?

If you are enthused about the idea of volunteering with an organization while helping your community and the greater society, community assistance work is right for you. You can make a difference in just a few hours a week. Whether you are a first-time jobseeker or an executive, you can make a difference!

To find community improvement opportunities that align with your values, goals and location, visit websites such as VolunteerMatch to get started. Or use job search engines such as Indeed or Idealist .

Just because no one has asked for your voluntary assistance does not mean it’s not important or needed.

Photo by Dmytro Zinkevych/Shutterstock.com

Bryan Lindenberger

Bryan enjoys the digital space where arts and technology meet. As a writer, he has worked in education, health and wellbeing, and manufacturing. He also assists smaller businesses in web development including accessibility and content development. In his free time, he hikes trails in central Florida.

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Why is Volunteering Important?

• July 10, 2021

Social For Action

• Post Views: 2,343

Table of Contents

What is Volunteering?

“Volunteering is a voluntary act of an individual or group freely giving time and labour for community service. Many volunteers are specifically trained in the areas they work, such as medicine, education, or emergency rescue. Others serve on an as-needed basis, such as in response to a natural disaster”

Source of the definition

Volunteering can help you make friends, learn new skills, advance your career, and even feel happier and healthier. Learn how to find the right volunteer opportunity for you.

10 Reasons Why Volunteering Is Important

With busy lives, it can be hard to find time to volunteer. However, the benefits of volunteering can be enormous. Volunteering offers vital help to people in need, worthwhile causes, and the community, but the benefits can be even greater for you, the volunteer. The right match can help you to find friends, connect with the community, learn new skills, and even advance your career.

Giving to others can also help protect your mental and physical health. It can reduce stress, combat depression, keep you mentally stimulated, and provide a sense of purpose. While it’s true that the more you volunteer, the more benefits you’ll experience, volunteering doesn’t have to involve a long-term commitment or take a huge amount of time out of your busy day. Giving in even simple ways can help those in need and improve your health and happiness.

Here are a few reasons why volunteering Is important:

#10: It’s good for you.

#9: It saves resources.

#8: Volunteers gain professional experience.

#7: It brings people together.

#6: It promotes personal growth and self-esteem.

#5: Volunteering strengthens your community.

#4: You learn a lot.

#3: You get a chance to give back.

#2: Volunteering encourages civic responsibility.

#1: You make a difference.

How Volunteering Can Help You and Society?

Benefits of volunteering: 4 ways to feel healthier and happier

• Volunteering connects you to others.
• Volunteering is good for your mind and body.
• Volunteering can advance your career.
• Volunteering brings fun and fulfilment to your life.

One of the more well-known benefits of volunteering is the impact on the community. Volunteering allows you to connect to your community and make it a better place. Even helping out with the smallest tasks can make a real difference to the lives of people, animals, and organizations in need. And volunteering is a two-way street: It can benefit you and your family as much as the cause you choose to help. Dedicating your time as a volunteer helps you make new friends, expand your network, and boost your social skills.

1. Make new friends and contacts

One of the best ways to make new friends and strengthen existing relationships is to commit to a shared activity together. Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, especially if you are new to an area. It strengthens your ties to the community and broadens your support network, exposing you to people with common interests, neighborhood resources, and fun and fulfilling activities.

2. Increase your social and relationship skills

While some people are naturally outgoing, others are shy and have a hard time meeting new people. Volunteering gives you the opportunity to practice and develop your social skills, since you are meeting regularly with a group of people with common interests. Once you have momentum, it’s easier to branch out and make more friends and contacts.

3. Volunteering provides many benefits to both mental and physical health.

Volunteering helps counteract the effects of stress, anger, and anxiety. The social contact aspect of helping and working with others can have a profound effect on your overall psychological well-being. Nothing relieves stress better than a meaningful connection to another person. Working with pets and other animals has also been shown to improve mood and reduce stress and anxiety.

Volunteering combats depression. Volunteering keeps you in regular contact with others and helps you develop a solid support system, which in turn protects you against depression.

Volunteering makes you happy. By measuring hormones and brain activity, researchers have discovered that being helpful to others delivers immense pleasure. Human beings are hard-wired to give to others. The more we give, the happier we feel.

Volunteering increases self-confidence. You are doing good for others and the community, which provides a natural sense of accomplishment. Your role as a volunteer can also give you a sense of pride and identity. And the better you feel about yourself, the more likely you are to have a positive view of your life and future goals.

Volunteering provides a sense of purpose. Older adults, especially those who have retired or lost a spouse, can find new meaning and direction in their lives by helping others. Whatever your age or life situation, volunteering can help take your mind off your own worries, keep you mentally stimulated, and add more zest to your life.

How To Find The Right Volunteer Opportunity?

There are numerous volunteer opportunities available. The key is to find a position that you would enjoy and are capable of doing. It’s also important to make sure that your commitment matches the organization’s needs. Ask yourself the following:

Would you like to work with adults, children, animals, or remotely from home?

Do you prefer to work alone or as part of a team?

Are you better behind the scenes or do you prefer to take a more visible role?

How much time are you willing to commit?

What skills can you bring to a volunteer job?

What causes are important to you?

Consider your goals and interests

You will have a richer and more enjoyable volunteering experience if you first take some time to identify your goals and interests. Think about why you want to volunteer. What would you enjoy doing? The opportunities that match both your goals and your interests are most likely to be fun and fulfilling.

Don’t limit yourself to just one organization or one specific type of job. Sometimes an opportunity looks great on paper, but the reality is quite different. Try to visit different organizations and get a feel for what they are like and if you click with other staff and volunteers.

Where To Find Volunteer Opportunities?

Community theaters, museums, and monuments.

Libraries or senior centers.

Service organizations such as Lions Clubs or Rotary Clubs.

Local animal shelters, rescue organizations, or wildlife centers.

Youth organizations, sports teams, and after-school programs.

Historical restorations, national parks, and conservation organizations.

Places of worship such as churches or synagogues.

Online directories and other resources (see below).

How Much Time Should You Volunteer?

Volunteering doesn’t have to take over your life to be beneficial. In fact, research shows that just two to three hours per week, or about 100 hours a year, can confer the most benefits—to both you and your chosen cause. The important thing is to volunteer only the amount of time that feels comfortable to you. Volunteering should feel like a fun and rewarding hobby, not another chore on your to-do list.

Getting the most out of volunteering

You’re donating your valuable time, so it’s important that you enjoy and benefit from your volunteering. To make sure that your volunteer position is a good fit:

Ask questions. You want to make sure that the experience is right for your skills, your goals, and the time you want to spend. Sample questions for your volunteer coordinator might address your time commitment, if there’s any training involved, who you will be working with, and what to do if you have questions during your experience.

Make sure you know what’s expected. You should be comfortable with the organization and understand the time commitment. Consider starting small so that you don’t over commit yourself at first. Give yourself some flexibility to change your focus if needed.

Don’t be afraid to make a change. Don’t force yourself into a bad fit or feel compelled to stick with a volunteer role you dislike. Talk to the organization about changing your focus or look for a different organization that’s a better fit.

If volunteering overseas, choose carefully. Some volunteer programs abroad can cause more harm than good if they take much-needed paying jobs away from local workers. Look for volunteer opportunities with reputable organizations.

Enjoy yourself. The best volunteer experiences benefit both the volunteer and the organization. If you’re not enjoying yourself, ask yourself why. Is it the tasks you’re performing? The people you’re working with? Or are you uncomfortable simply because the situation is new and unfamiliar? Pinpointing what’s bothering you can help you decide how to proceed.

• Volunteers.org
• iVolunteer.in
• Connectfor.org
• Socialforaction.com

If we want to volunteer but do not know where to start; We can always consult different organizations on the Internet where they could use all the volunteer help they can get. These could help save animals; to make older people feel loved and happy again, or we can just check our community and see where we can help.

We must not start big when we consider Why Is Volunteering Important and where we can share everything we have for the less fortunate. Volunteer to help a friend a family member; give our time to school activities, and even just helping someone at random are already good acts of volunteering.

There are endless ways to volunteer; we must only be open to our environment and genuinely observe what is happening around us. Before we know it, we could already be in the middle of fundraisers; or help those who have been struck by natural calamities to rebuild their lives. Volunteering is a real channel that makes the world a happier place for everyone.

Take Action & Join the Cause

SocialForAction aims to be an all-encompassing resource solution for non-profits; it seeks to help develop the culture of volunteering across India, encouraging both individuals and organisations to realize how to best use volunteering opportunities to add the most value. Our volunteering platform has made volunteer opportunities in India accessible. Change makers can donate their time and skills with non-profits to bring about a positive change in the social ecosystem. Join Today !

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Social impact and social change remains the core of the Sakal's beliefs even today and with this Sakal is introducing its own Crowdfunding platform - Social For Action.

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Home / Essay Samples / Life / Experience / Volunteering

Volunteering Essay Examples

An essay on volunteering serves as a platform to explore the selfless act of contributing time, skills, and effort for the betterment of others and the community. The purpose of such an essay is to highlight the meaningful impact of volunteering, showcase the values it fosters, and inspire readers to engage in acts of service. Essays on volunteering emphasize the importance of empathy, compassion, and social responsibility, while also addressing the personal growth and fulfillment that volunteers experience. Promotion of Social Good One of the primary goals of an essay on volunteering is to promote the concept of social good and community welfare. These essays shed light on the positive change that volunteers bring to various social, environmental, and humanitarian causes, showcasing the power of collective action. Essays about volunteering emphasize the values of empathy and compassion that underlie acts of service. They encourage readers to step into the shoes of others, understand their challenges, and offer assistance to alleviate their hardships. Volunteering essay examples aim to inspire readers to take action and become active participants in their communities. These essays showcase how even small contributions can make a significant difference, encouraging readers to get involved and contribute their skills and time to causes they care about. Structure of an Essay on Volunteering:

Introduction: Begin with an engaging introduction that introduces the topic of volunteering and provides context for its significance. Thesis Statement: Include a clear thesis statement that outlines the main points you will address in the essay. Body Paragraphs: Divide the body of the essay into paragraphs that discuss different aspects of volunteering. This could include personal experiences, benefits of volunteering, impact on the community, and the values it fosters. Real-Life Examples: Include specific examples of volunteer work or organizations to illustrate your points. Personal Reflection: Share your personal reflections on the impact of volunteering, whether you’ve volunteered yourself or witnessed its effects. Encouragement and Call to Action: Conclude the essay by encouraging readers to consider volunteering and offering suggestions for getting involved.

An essay about volunteering serves as a reminder of the positive impact that individuals can have on society by giving back. By discussing the values, benefits, and personal growth associated with volunteering, these essays motivate readers to engage in acts of service that contribute to a more compassionate and harmonious world.

Why I Want to Volunteer: a Commitment to Giving Back

Volunteering is a powerful way to make a positive impact on the lives of others and contribute to the well-being of communities. It is a selfless act that not only benefits those in need but also enriches the lives of volunteers. Exploring the question of...

Reasons Why Volunteering is Important in Australian Sport

One of the last persuasive speeches on volunteering which I have heard was about the urgent importance of voluntary work these years as it has an important input in society, letting many organizations, to meet the demand for their services. Volunteers are the backbone of...

Volunteering at a Hospital: a Journey of Compassion and Contribution

Volunteering at a hospital is a unique and rewarding experience that offers insights into the healthcare field while allowing individuals to make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients and their families. This essay explores the significance of volunteering at a hospital, highlighting the...

The Motivators and Barriers for Blood Donation Amongst Male and Female Donors

A suitable blood supply relies on individual who are volunteer non-rewarded donors. In this paper, we would determine the selection and retaining sufficient normal voluntary non-rewarded blood benefactors the motivators and hindrances behind them should also be comprehended. Likewise, with fast increment in the use...

Formal Volunteering as a Protective Factor for Older Adults’ Psychological Well-being

Volunteering not only helps strengthen communities, but also promotes individual well-being. More specifically, volunteering among the geriatric community has been shown to yield a greater benefit than that of the younger population regarding emotional, psychological, and physical health. The study I will be analyzing asserts...

Personal Report on Volunteering at Dorothy Children’s Home

The USIU-A educational experience is pitched on helping the community as its major stronghold; building a culture and a community that both reflects and fosters togetherness, and demonstrate progress towards measurable community goals. This is done by ensuring that all students do community service in...

Fostering Team Bonding Through Corporate Volunteering Abroad

The effects of volunteerism on employees is well documented. So why not blend your next team-building effort with community outreach and volunteer efforts? Better yet, do it overseas! Volunteering overseas is a life-changing experience that can benefit the volunteer as much as it does the...

Cultural Development Through Acts of Kindness and Good Deeds

Many positive influences in society today have contributed to the development of a sustainable environment. Through multiple acts of altruism and teamwork, this has remained a possibility. Positive influences and human characteristics can both be developed through good deeds such as community services or mission...

An All-volunteer Force as the Better Alternative to Compulsory Military Service

“If a country cannot save itself through the volunteer service of its own free people, then I say: Let the damned thing go down the drain!”, once said Robert A. Heinlein at the 29th World Science Fiction Convention’s Honor Speech. In the last century, there...

The Main Skills I Acquired During My Time Volunteering

One of my weaknesses is working and collaborating in teams when working on various projects and/or assignments. In the past, there have been times, whether in school or on the job, where I have not collaborated with my team members as much when working on...

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About Volunteering

A volunteer is someone who does work without being paid for it, because they want to do it. Volunteering is an act of an individual or group freely giving time and labour for community service.

Formal. Governance. Non-formal. Social action. Project based.

Volunteering is important as it offers essential help to worthwhile causes, people in need, and the wider community. Volunteering combats depression, and helps stay physically healthy.

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