The Benefits of Volunteering

June 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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Most people know that volunteering benefits the community. But community service is also a great way to help yourself. There is a wide range of organizations to fit every need, interest, and time commitment. Get started volunteering today to give yourself the many benefits that these activities create.

Develop Your Hobbies
Volunteering provides a break from everyday activities at work and home that consume our lives. It can give you a chance to get involved with activities you’ve always found fun. You may even discover a hobby you weren’t ever aware you had!

A New Experience
Community service gives you the chance to experience your community, hands on. You can work in developing countries or in your own backyard. Either way, you’ll see the concrete impact of your work.

Meet New People
You’ll encounter a diverse set of people when you volunteer, from the people with whom you work through any of the organizations you choose to the people who benefit from your volunteering. It will also give you the opportunity to network and could potentially advance your career.

Benefit Your Career
Employers value candidates who have had volunteer experience. They know that volunteering can improve and add to your skill set. Volunteering is also the perfect way to gain experience in a new field if you’re thinking about making a career change.

Sense of Self
You’re making the choice to volunteer, so your actions will truly bring you fulfillment. You’ll feel a sense of achievement for volunteering that you may not get from completing the work you’re obligated to do.

 

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Volunteers for Daytime Activities

October 2, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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A myth in the world of charities and organization is that daytime availability of volunteers is dwindling away. Many volunteers relied on homemakers to volunteer during business hours, but as more women left the home and entered the workforce organizations were left with minimal volunteers. Regardless of the setback, charities are finding it easier to recruit daytime volunteers more than ever before.

Finding adult volunteers who are able to work during the nine to five hours is easy since many individuals don not keep normal business hours. With the increase in individuals working from home, available volunteer hours are flexible. Those who work at home can easily rearrange their schedule to offer help to organizations that need it. There are also others that still work regular jobs that are able to make time during the day to volunteer. Individuals who work in the evening, on the weekends, or work odd shifts can also work daytime hours.

Many businesses are open 24 hours a day, which means their employees work in eight-hour shifts. The morning shift usually begins at 7:00 am, which means the individual is available to volunteer for a couple of hours after their shift. For those who work the evening shift, their availability begins in the morning until their shift begins at 3:00 pm. The businesses that work around the clock are hospitals, factories, hotels, public service departments, entertainment stations, and delivery companies. Evening workers are similar to shift workers and have time available in the afternoon to devote to helping others. Many businesses that keep mostly evening hours are movie theaters, computer services, and restaurants.

Businesses that require weekend shifts give their employees one or two days off during the regular workweek. The majority of service businesses have employees working every day of the week and employees can offer more volunteer hours. Despite the challenge of finding volunteers for daytime activities, they are available for organizations.

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Why do People Volunteer?

October 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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People of all ages are motivated to volunteer for many reasons. The desire to help others is the main reason people volunteer, and it is okay to volunteer for reasons that are beneficial to you. Some individuals are embarrassed by the notion that people who volunteer can benefit from their work, but some of the best volunteers have are motivated by other reasons than just the aspiration to serve.
Volunteering has long been thought of as something you do selflessly for others, but in recent times it has become more of an exchange. People often find themselves in need of help at one point or another in their lives. While you are capable of offering a helping hand today, you may need help down the line. Sometimes an exchange happens simultaneously. Your education may allow you to offer your services as a tutor to help other adults read, but your unemployed status may require you to reach out so you can afford to give your family a holiday meal.
The desire and reward of feeling needed, getting to know others in your community, and satisfaction of accomplishment may be underlining reasons you choose to volunteer. Just because you are motivated by something other than just wanting to change the world, does not mean you are not truly making a difference. Your reasons for volunteering are your own, and the only thing that matters is that you are out in the community making a difference.
What motivates you to volunteer in the beginning is not what makes you continue your work. Underlying motivations are beneficial to volunteer efforts and to those who are in need because they are receiving the care they need and are able to realize their own potential from the eyes of their volunteer. Helping others may not be your only motivation for volunteering, and at the end of the day it does not really matter.

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Community Service: Getting Your Workplace Involved

September 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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Every year, communities on local, regional, and national levels hold numerous community service events to help those that are less fortunate or are affected by disaster. Individuals are asked to step up and help those in their community and they do without reserve. The compassion that individuals have for others in their community is growing regardless whether or not they know the individual or families they are helping. As the desire to help others in our communities, many are wondering how to take community service to the next level.
Many businesses donate to their charities of choice, but their community service rarely involves the participation of their employees. Most businesses overlook the impact that their group of employees can have for the community, large or small, and believe that what they are doing is enough. As an employee, there are ways to get your coworkers and companies involved in doing more and increase the respect your company receives from the community. Every year, there are several events in which people and families in the community need help.
Most schools begin in August or September every year, and many families are unable to provide their children with the necessary clothing and supplies. By encouraging everyone in the workplace to bring in their children’s clothing that is no longer being used and buying one or two items on the school supply list will result in many families being able to give their kids what they need. Around the holidays, putting a box in the office for food supplies that will be given to the holiday food drives will allow more families to be together to enjoy the holidays without the wonder of where the money will come from.
There are many other ways to get the workplace involved in helping others in the community. Most business would not hesitate letting their employees participate together in community events under the company’s name because they would become a trusted face in the community. There is always someone in need of help in every community and the more people that come together, the better.

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