The Benefits of Volunteering – You May Be Surprised

By on March 28, 2023

volunteer reads with a child

Why is volunteering important?

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.

Are you thinking of becoming a volunteer? The list below offers 10 excellent reasons to sign up. Also, watch this TEDx talk for some surprising benefits of volunteering.

Top 10 Reasons to Volunteer:

10. It’s good for you.

Volunteering provides physical and mental rewards.

  • Stress reduction: Experts report that focusing on someone other than yourself interrupts tension-producing patterns.
  • Health benefits: Moods and emotions, like optimism, joy, and control over one’s fate, strengthen the immune system.

9. It saves resources

Volunteering provides valuable community services so more money can be spent on local improvements. The estimated value of a volunteer’s time in California is $26.87 per hour based on the Corporation for National & Community Service.

8. Volunteers gain professional experience

You can test out a career and practice newly gained skills.

7. It brings people together

As a volunteer, you assist in uniting people from diverse backgrounds to work toward a common goal and building camaraderie through teamwork.

6. It promotes personal growth and self-esteem

Understanding community needs helps foster empathy and self-efficacy.

5. Volunteering strengthens your community

As a volunteer you help:

  • Support families (daycare and eldercare)
  • Improve schools (tutoring, literacy)
  • Support youth (mentoring and after-school programs)
  • Beautify the community (public areas and park cleanups)

4. You learn a lot

Volunteers discover hidden talents that may change their view of their self-worth. Through working with local non-profit agencies, volunteers learn about the functions and operations of our government. Volunteers gain knowledge of local resources available to solve community needs.

3. You get a chance to give back

People like to support community resources that they use themselves or that benefit people they care about.

2. Volunteering encourages civic responsibility

Community service and volunteerism are an investment in our community and the people who live in it.

1. You make a difference

Every person counts!

JCA Blog