I’m sure we’ve all heard it a thousand times. Volunteer work looks good on resumes and applications, and it sets you apart from others. Honestly, it shouldn’t set us apart from our peers, because we should all spend time volunteering at some point in our lives. For me and many others, volunteering is much more than something that makes us look good on paper. Too many times in life we think “What’s in it for me?” or “I could be doing something else with my time.” We tend to forget how necessary volunteerism is for many organizations and programs, and how beneficial it is for everyone involved.
Volunteer work helps provide organizations/programs with the assistance they need to keep their services running at little to no cost. Trust me, the people running these programs and the people who benefit from them appreciate volunteers so much. Most of us aren’t even aware of the opportunities surrounding us. We all can volunteer for a variety of programs or events throughout our communities. All you have to do is ask. Do your research and ask someone, “How can I get involved in this?” and you’re halfway there. You can also check out websites such as www.volunteermatch.org or the websites of organizations you would like to get involved with.
Volunteers tend to do a wonderful job because they genuinely want to be there helping out. Taking some time to do something good comes with a sense of fulfillment that is hard to replicate. It is undoubtedly great for your mental and social health to get out in the community, and volunteering for a good cause lets you lay down at night knowing you helped someone that day. It’s important to give back because you and those you serve get so much out of it. You only get a few opportunities in your life to really make a difference in someone else’s. And by doing whatever you do as a volunteer, you are able to make a difference in many lives.