Did You Know – Volunteering Connects You to Others?
Posted on December 1, 2014
When we moved to this area, my husband volunteered for Habitat for Humanity. It turns out that he met a great group of people, got very involved in the community and even picked up some useful construction skills!!!
Most of us lead very busy, often hectic lives! Between long work days, shuttling the kids to and from sports events and friends’ houses, homework, meal preparation, grocery shopping, bills, and the list of demands on our time continues. You may be asking yourself, “ how in the world would I find the time to volunteer?” The many benefits of volunteering are enormous to you, your family, and your community as long as you find the right match. This is something that you can choose to get your family involved with and may even help enhance family time together! Each day this week I will share another benefit of volunteering.
One of the better-known benefits of volunteering is the impact on the community. Unpaid volunteers are often the glue that holds a community together. Volunteering allows you to connect to your community and make it a better place. Even helping out with the smallest tasks can make a real difference to the lives of people, animals, and organizations in need. And volunteering is a two-way street: It can benefit you and your family as much as the cause you choose to help. Dedicating your time as a volunteer helps you make new friends, expand your network, and boost your social skills.
Volunteering helps you make new friends and contacts
One of the best ways to make new friends and strengthen existing relationships is to commit to a shared activity together. Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, especially if you are new to an area. Volunteering also strengthens your ties to the community and broadens your support network, exposing you to people with common interests, neighborhood resources, and fun and fulfilling activities.
Volunteering increases your social and relationship skills
While some people are naturally outgoing, others are shy and have a hard time meeting new people. Volunteering gives you the opportunity to practice and develop your social skills, since you are meeting regularly with a group of people with common interests. Once you have momentum, it’s easier to branch out and make more friends and contacts.
Volunteering as a family
While it might be a challenge to coordinate everyone’s schedules, volunteering as a family has many worthwhile benefits. Children watch everything you do. By giving back to the community, you show them firsthand how volunteering makes a difference and how good it feels to help other people and animals and enact change. It’s also a valuable way for you to get to know organizations in the community and find resources and activities for your children and family.
Volunteering is a great topic for holiday gatherings. How do you want to “make a differerence?”
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Excerpt from www.healthguide.org
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