| MAY 3, 2013 -- #10: It’s good for you.
Volunteering provides physical and mental rewards. It:
• Reduces Stress: Experts report that when you focus on someone other than yourself, it interrups usual tension-producing patterns.
• Makes you healthier: 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 is $15.39 per hour.
#8: Volunteers gain professional experience.
You can test out a career.
#7: It brings people together.
As a volunteer you assist in:
• Uniting people from diverse backgrounds to work toward a common goal.
• Building camaraderie and 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 (beach and park clean-ups)
#4: You learn a lot.
Volunteers learn things like these:
• Self: Volunteers discover hidden talents that may change your view on your self worth.
• Government: through working with local non-profit agencies, volunteers learn about the functions and operation of our government.
• Community: 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 people who live in it.
#1: You make a difference.
Every person counts!
(Original article from the website of USC San Diego)
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