Volunteer! Help others to Help Yourself.

Volunteering provides an array of benefits to the volunteer.  Job-related Benefits  Social Benefits  Health Benefits

Job Related  73% of Employers would hire a candidate with volunteer experience over one without.  Great way to expand your network.  Can help you get promoted or improve your salary.

Social Benefits  Volunteering is a great way to meet people and expand your network.  Learn new skills and improve existing skills.  Gives the volunteer a sense of achievement and purpose.  Discover new interests or hobbies.

Health Benefits  In a study of people with severe mental illness, 58% felt that their mental health improved.  Volunteering also leads to improvement in general health and emotional well- being.  Lowers risk of depression and heart disease.

The most common reason given for not volunteering is not having enough time.  You can feel the effects on your self- esteem and a sense of achievement every time you volunteer.  Volunteering just 40 hours per year will make a difference in your health.  You will feel the full effects when you volunteer 100 hours per year.

Conclusion Volunteering provides benefits not only to the community and organizations that are the recipients, but for the people who are volunteering.

Sources:   g-volunteer-work-increases-longevity/  "The Costs and Benefits of Volunteers"  "The Health Benefits of Volunteering“  Allen, Daniel. “Volunteering Works.” Mental Health Practice 11.9 (June 2008): 6-7. Academic Search Premier. Web. 4 Sept  “Benefits of Volunteering.” World Volunteer Web. United Nations Volunteers, 19 Oct Web. 12 Sept