Why Get Involved?
Volunteering is very important---not just for making the world a better place, but for your own benefit. Donating, learning and spreading awareness are also key activities to unlock the benefits of giving back. Learn more about how volunteering helps you and others below.
Summary
Improve your physical and mental health, cultivate a sense of purpose, belonging and community, build your résumé and network, become more confident and develop skills, improve your self-esteem, connect with like-minded people, and appreciate more things in your life.
it helps you
Reason 1
Better Physical Health
Volunteering contributes to overall better physical health, including "greater life satisfaction, fewer hospitalizations, higher self-esteem, and a greater ability to manage their own chronic illnesses. Volunteering can even reduce your risk of high blood pressure and chronic pain" (Source). Also, volunteers spend 38% less time in the hospital, and volunteering after middle age can reduce mortality rates by up to 47%! (Source). Volunteering can also involve physical activity, which helps physical and mental health (Source).​
Reason 3
Sense of Purpose
“Volunteerism gives us a sense of purpose because it shows us our place in the world and our interconnectivity with others." (Source). Volunteering enables you to contribute to a cause you care about and witness the positive impact of your actions. Volunteering can be more rewarding and fulfilling than work, school or other activities; studies show the human brain is wired to help others (Source). Volunteering releases oxytocin, which helps people feel "more optimistic, and more useful and purposeful" (Source).
Reason 5
Improve Self-Esteem
Volunteering can help you feel better about yourself, even boosting life satisfaction. While making a positive difference for others/your community, you may feel pride and a stronger sense of identity. "The better you feel about yourself, the more likely you are to have a positive view of your life and future goals." (Source)
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"Volunteering is a fun and easy way to explore your interests and passions. Volunteer work can be a relaxing, energizing escape from your day-to-day routine of work, school, or family commitments. Volunteering also provides you with renewed creativity, motivation, and vision that can carry over into your personal and professional life." (Source)
Reason 7
Build Your Resumé/
Network
Volunteering adds valuable experience to your resume. It also helps you connect with new people to grow your network. These connections can be really handy for your future self!
Reason 2
Better Mental Health
​Volunteering is incredibly helpful for improving mental health. Volunteering reduces your risk of depression (Source & Source), especially for older adults 65+, by up to 43% (Source). Volunteers have reduced feelings of anger, anxiety and stress (Source) and increased feelings of wellbeing and hope (Source). Volunteering leads to happiness (Source) and reduces feelings of isolation and loneliness (Source). Volunteering helps you live longer too (Source)!
Reason 4
Belonging/Community
Volunteering creates feelings of belonging and feeling connected to a larger community. Seeing neighbours, friends and strangers participating in volunteer events warms hearts and creates a special kind of positive energy.
Reason 6
Become More Confident/
Gain New Skills
Volunteering can increase your confidence and help you learn new things. It can also "help you build upon skills you already have and use them to benefit the greater community" (Source), which is a wonderful feeling. "Volunteering is a low-stress way to (re)gain your confidence in your abilities and value to yourself and others... Volunteering is a fun and easy way to explore your interests and passions. Doing volunteer work you find meaningful and interesting can be a relaxing, energizing escape from your day-to-day routine of work, school, or family commitments. Volunteering also provides you with renewed creativity, motivation, and vision that can carry over into your personal and professional life." (Source)
Reason 8
Connect with Like-minded People
You're likely to meet people with similar values and interests when you're volunteering. You already have something in common. You may make new friends!
Reason 9
Feel more appreciative of your own life
Even if you're going through a tough time, volunteering allows you to feel grateful for your life. Whether it's for clean water, a place to live, food, clean air... or helping people who really need it... you will likely feel more appreciative of your own situation and what good things you have in your own life.
Summary
Directly help the people, animals and ecosystems you're volunteering for, make your community stronger, and create positive memories with your team/youth.
it helps others
Reason 1
Help people
The most obvious benefit of volunteering.
Your time, effort and energy can bring cheer, brightness and positivity to people who are struggling.
Reason 3
Help your community
Volunteering in your neighbourhood fosters a kind and loving community spirit. It helps everyone feel part of something bigger, and feel connected with neighbours and other people.
Reason 2
Help animals/ecosystems
Your volunteer work can help protect animals from suffering, as well as habitats/ecosystems as a whole. As the Lorax says, "I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues" -- protecting the Earth from human-caused damage is one of the most important jobs there is.
Reason 4
Create positive memories with your team/youth
Volunteering creates lovely memories with your team / with any youth you're working with. Some people still talk about their volunteer experiences in youth programs decades later because of how much of an impact they made.
