How does community service help the community

The opportunities that match both your goals and your interests are most likely to be fun and fulfilling. Ask yourself if there is something specific you want to do or achieve as a volunteer.

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. In fact, research shows that just two to three hours per week, or about 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. 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.

You should be comfortable with the organization and understand the time commitment. Give yourself some flexibility to change your focus if needed. 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. Or are you uncomfortable simply because the situation is new and unfamiliar? VolunteerMatch — Find opportunities that match your volunteer interests, from location to type of work. Idealist — Find volunteer opportunities in your local area or internationally.

National and Community Service — Federal organization offering volunteer positions across the U. National Service. Volunteer — Directory of environmental volunteer opportunities. Peace Corps — Offers volunteer opportunities overseas and includes a 50 Plus division. Peace Corps. Red Cross. Why volunteer? Corporation for National and Community Service.

The many ways volunteering is good for your heart — Includes resources for finding volunteer positions. Harvard Health Publications. Network for Good. This holiday season alone, millions of people will turn to HelpGuide for free mental health guidance and support. So many people rely on us in their most difficult moments. Can we rely on you? All gifts made before December 31 will be doubled.

Cookie Policy. Learn how to find the right volunteer opportunity for you. Benefits of volunteering: 4 ways to feel healthier and happier. Dedicating your time as a volunteer helps you make new friends, expand your network, and boost your social skills. 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. Volunteering also 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.

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. Children watch everything you do. By giving back to the community, you show them firsthand how volunteering makes a difference and how good it feels to help other people and animals and enact change.

Volunteering can provide a healthy boost to your self-confidence, self-esteem, and life satisfaction. 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 combats depression. Reducing the risk of depression is another important benefit of volunteering. A key risk factor for depression is social isolation. Working with pets and other animals has also been shown to improve mood and reduce stress and anxiety.

Volunteering helps you stay physically healthy. Studies have found that those who volunteer have a lower mortality rate than those who do not, even when considering factors like the health of the participants. Volunteering has also been shown to lessen symptoms of chronic pain or heart disease. Research also back this up. Studies show that students who give back to the community perform better in school , particularily in subjects such as math, reading, and history.

Furthermore, students who participate in community service are also more likely to graduate from high school. As admission to elite colleges and universities has become more competitive, volunteer experience can prove an advantage in the college admissions process.

For that reason, many students start doing community service projects as they advance through high school. Students who begin earlier, however, have a distinct advantage because their breadth of experience allows them to quickly step up to leadership positions within organizations. Starting community service before high school also has many other benefits for students.

Those extra years of volunteering give students a leg up when applying for scholarships—especially scholarships that are designed to reward participation in community service. The relationships students build with other volunteers also work to their advantage when it comes time to ask for letters of recommendation for college applications and scholarships. When students get involved in community service, they not only help others — they expand their worldview, develop empathy and leadership skills, and realize how their actions can have a positive impact.

Not just for the positive impact they can make on the world — but also for the positive impact volunteering has on them. Topics Community , Global Citizenship. Why Whitby? Share this Post.