The Personal Health & Economic Benefits of Donating Your Time to a Cause
by www.SixWise.com
The need for donating your time to a cause is never more
apparent than during the aftermath of tragedies like Hurricane
Katrina. Thousands upon thousands of people across the United
States have volunteered to help Katrina survivors, and the
American Red Cross alone trained an additional 74,000 people
in specialized disaster relief skills to help.
People who donate their time to causes do so out of caring,
out of a desire to give and to lend a hand to someone in need.
This is the primary motivation. However, people who make the
selfless act of donating this precious resource (their time)
do not go unrecognized.
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No matter where you choose to volunteer, you're likely
to get back even more than you give.
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Learn Something New
According to the National Survey of Giving, Volunteering
and Participating (NSGVP) conducted in Canada:
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76 percent of volunteers said that after volunteering
they gained interpersonal skills (they were better able
to understand other people, motivate others and help them
in dealing with difficult situations).
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66 percent said they developed better communication skills
in areas like public speaking, writing and public relations.
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64 percent reported an increase in their knowledge about
such issues as health, women, politics, criminal justice
or the environment.
Volunteering clearly helps keep your brain active with all
the new things you're exposed to, which is also a key way
to ward of Alzheimer's disease as you age.
"Just keeping busy seems to tune the brain," says
neuropsychologist Yaakov Stern of Columbia University College
of Physicians and Surgeons. In a seven-year study of 1,800
older adults, Stern found that the more "leisure pursuits"
a person had, the lower their risk of developing Alzheimer's.
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Volunteering puts a smile on everyone's face!
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Improve Your Health
Allan Luks, author of "The
Healing Power of Doing Good," describes many scientifically
documented accounts of people gaining physical, mental and
emotional benefits from doing good. For instance, holding
an abandoned baby may help get rid of your backache, he says.
Luks describes a "helper's high" that is similar
to the high we feel after exercising. And, Luks maintains
that volunteering provides:
Make New Friends
It's easy for kids to meet new friends; they're around new
people all the time at school, sports events and other activities.
But as you become an adult with responsibilities, routines
and less leisure time, meeting new people becomes more difficult.
When you volunteer, however, you're around people all the
time -- people who share a similar interest in a good cause.
It's a great way to start a new friendship or keep an old
one going strong by volunteering together.
Job Help
Many respondents to the NSGVP survey thought volunteering
was a good step to gaining paid employment.
Volunteering at an organization for which you'd like to work
full-time is a great way to get your foot in the door, and
provides you with a vast network of contacts. And volunteering
in general looks impressive on any resume. What employer wouldn't
want to hire someone who shows caring and generosity to their
fellow man?
A survey of 200 UK businesses looked at volunteering from
the employers perspective and found that it could make the
difference between being hired or fired:
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73 percent of employers would hire someone with volunteer
experience over someone with none.
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94 percent of employers believe volunteering adds to
skill levels.
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58 percent say volunteer work experience can be even
more valuable than paid work experience.
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94 percent of employees who volunteered to learn new
skills got their first job, got a raise or were promoted.
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Often, giving your time is the most precious gift you
could give.
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Build Confidence and Self-Esteem
Many volunteer positions require a large degree of responsibility
and leadership. Leading others around you and fulfilling your
duties can be challenging, and overcoming those challenges
is a great way to boost your own level of confidence. Plus,
when you see the appreciative looks from those you are there
to help, your self-esteem will go through the roof.
Tax Deductions
Many
costs associated with volunteering are tax deductible.
For instance, you can deduct travel expenses, parking costs,
convention attendance fees, etc. (as long as the organization
you're volunteering for is not reimbursing you).
Get Academic Credit
Certain colleges and high schools allow students to gain
academic credit for volunteer work. This type of "service
learning" gives students a chance to help their communities
while receiving hands-on learning experiences.
The More You Volunteer ...
According to the NSGVP survey, the top 25 percent of volunteers
(those who contributed 177 hours or more per year) were more
likely to say they experienced benefits than people who volunteered
between one and 176 hours a year. In other words, the more
you give, the more you'll gain!
Check out Charity
Navigator for some top-rated charities in your area that
may be looking for volunteers today.
Recommended Reading
How
to Get the Greatest Tax Advantages by Donating Money to Charity
Spending
Your Money on Doing Things vs. Owning Things Will Make You
Happier
Sources
Giving
and Volunteering
Time
Bank UK
Virginia
Volunteer