Many of us may have volunteered once or twice in our life, but what many people may not know is that volunteering can actually be an excellent way to stay healthy! Volunteering allows us to stay active, connect and socialize with others, and make us feel good by giving back to our communities! April is National Volunteer Month, so there’s no better time to check out some volunteer opportunities than right now! Even with the pandemic, there are so many in-person and virtual volunteer opportunities all around you, including opportunities for the whole family! "Two thirds of youths who volunteer become active adults who volunteer," says Tanisha Smith, national director of volunteer services for Volunteers of America. Kids love to copy their parents, so volunteering to show them the impact they can have on their community is a great way to lead the way. 4 Health Benefits of VolunteeringWhile you are out making a difference in your community by volunteering, you also help you and your family stay healthy. Volunteering has many benefits associated with both our physical health and our mental health. Here are 4 health benefits of volunteering:
Benefits to Your CommunityVolunteering your time and skills for a cause can have so many benefits for the communities you are helping. The services volunteers provide allow nonprofit organizations to reduce the need for paid personnel to complete tasks. Volunteers play an integral role in helping organizations run smoothly to provide resources and services for those who need them most in the community. Additionally, volunteering allows for diverse members of the community to come together for a common cause. This can help create friendships and a supportive environment so that everyone in the community can feel safer, stronger, and more united, creating a better place for everyone to live in. Find Volunteer OpportunitiesVolunteering for a cause you are passionate about makes it so much more fun! It may seem intimidating finding where to start, so here are some ways on how you can begin your search for volunteer opportunities:
Right now, we need volunteers to assist us with packet pick-up for the Austin Marathon on April 24th, 2021. Check out our Austin Marathon Gives page for more information. You can use this link to sign-up to volunteer with us! The Austin Marathon is quickly approaching, and volunteer spots are filling up, but we would love to have you there with us, so sign up soon if you are interested! We asked two of our current volunteers what their favorite thing is about volunteering and why they chose to volunteer at HealthStart. Here’s what some of our amazing HealthStart volunteers have to say! Angie Campiz - Spanish Translator Volunteer Q) What is your favorite thing about volunteering?
Q) Why did you choose to volunteer for HealthStart?
John Kearney - What Are You Feeding? Database Volunteer Q) What is your favorite thing about volunteering?
Here at HealthStart, we are always happy to welcome new volunteers throughout the year! If you are interested in building a healthier community for our kids, check out our Get Involved page for more information on how to volunteer with us or send us a message at Contact Us to put you on our volunteer list for future opportunities. References:
The 3 health benefits of volunteering. (2021, September 16). Mayo Clinic Health System. https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/3-health-benefits-of-volunteering Ways to Volunteer Using Your Car. (2021, March 15). Bankrate. https://www.bankrate.com/insurance/car/volunteer-using-your-car/ Here's why community service is important - Top 5 benefits. (2020, February 20). Habitat for Humanity. https://www.habitatbroward.org/why-community-service-is-important/ Mosebar, S. (n.d.). 12 unexpected health benefits of volunteering. BioTrust. https://blog.biotrust.com/12-health-benefits-volunteering/
5 Comments
4/27/2022 11:59:12 pm
I like how you mentioned that it could provide different help by volunteering to community projects. A couple of days ago, my missis told me that she wanted to have our children be involved in taking care of our community, and she asked if I had any idea what would be the best option to consider. Thanks to this helpful article, I'll be sure to tell her that we can consult a community service for kids to know more information about the help we could provide.
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9/4/2022 07:21:26 pm
I like what you stated about how volunteering and performing good deeds for others may cause your body to generate endorphins. As a college student, I try to be active and give back to society at the same time. I'll look for a nonprofit children's group where I can volunteer because I adore kids.
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1/17/2023 03:57:08 pm
It helped when you said that assisting with programs could help enlighten your mood. My brother informed me a couple of days ago that he was looking for a community organization that he could support to grant children wish opportunities as an assistant to the community. He asked if I had any suggestions. I appreciate this valuable article, I'll tell him he can consult the non-profit children's wish opportunities program.
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2/10/2023 02:58:17 pm
Recently, my sister mentioned her school was visited by volunteering programs that talked about how much help we'd do when joining a volunteering group. It seems like it really impacted my sister, so I want to support her by joining her in her volunteering journey next month, and I think your advice will help us find an opportunity. I appreciate your advice on how volunteering with your loved ones makes the experience much better.
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2/18/2023 08:24:47 am
Volunteering is a great way to give back and feel good at the same time. Generating endorphins by doing good deeds not only benefits the receiver of your acts but also yourself. As a college student, it's important to stay active in society and find ways to help out.
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