National Volunteer Week is coming up April 14-20. Many organizations say volunteers are the backbone of their operations and we couldn’t agree more! In honour of National Volunteer Week, we look at the benefits for volunteers and for communities.
National Volunteer Week 2024
The theme of National Volunteer Week for 2024 is Every Moment Matters. It highlights each volunteer and each contribution they make, reminding us that truly every moment matters to a person and a situation. Volunteers share their time, skills, creativity and empathy, contributing to the strength and wellbeing of their communities.
There are personal benefits, too. Many people report feeling excited, like a “runner’s high,” after volunteering. Others feel a deep sense of community, or that their chronic pain eases for days afterwards. Research shows the benefits of volunteering boost both our mental and physical health.
Volunteers often report the rewards of giving back to their communities are greater than any effort they expend. Many say that a simple act of kindness can improve their day. Think of what long-term volunteering can do. Here are six benefits of volunteering that show the impact for individuals and their communities.
Benefit #1 Volunteering Helps Communities
Four in five Canadians aged 15 and older volunteered in 2018, either through an organization or informally on their own, according to StatsCan’s most recent report, the 2018 General Social Survey on Giving, Volunteering and Participating (GSS-GVP). A total of 24 million Canadians volunteered 2.5 million hours of their time to improve health, well-being, education and safety in their communities. The economic value, often referred to as ”volunteer dollars,” was worth approximately $55 billion in 2018.
StatsCan also reports that 68.8 percent of Canadian not-for-profits serving individuals or households rely on volunteers. This substantial economic contribution is the backbone of many organizations, allowing staff to focus on policy and essential needs while receiving the support of volunteers for administrative tasks, event coordination and simple frontline service.
Benefit #2 Volunteering Builds Social Impact in Communities
Volunteering builds empathy and helps people see various sides of social issues. Volunteering can be an opportunity to learn about and help improve community issues, especially for members of society who have little exposure to people in other social or economic circumstances. Helping older and vulnerable adults with social activities, meal programs for children from low-income families, and clothing drives for people experiencing homelessness or unstable housing allows us to interact with people in our communities.
Benefit #3 Volunteering Connects You to Other People
Despite how busy our lives can be, many of us feel a lack of personal connections. Rushing around for work and meeting family obligations does put us in touch with others, yet sometimes those activities just leave us exhausted. Volunteering connects us to our communities, helps us make new friends and makes us feel a sense of achievement from helping others.
Benefit #4 Volunteering is Good for Mental Health
It’s fair to say that volunteering helps beat depression, anxiety and feelings of social isolation.
Volunteering releases serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates mood in the brain, and oxytocin, the “love hormone.” Researchers found that both volunteering and receiving services from volunteers have the same benefits. A research project at the University of British Columbia found that even toddlers benefit from giving and sharing, deriving more happiness by giving to other children than keeping their snacks to themselves. The more we give, the better we feel.
Benefit #5 Volunteering is Good for Physical Health
Our bodies also benefit from our volunteer activities. Walking as we distribute items, working in a community office or any other physical activity has strong health benefits. Add to this the happiness component and we reduce stressors causing heart disease, high blood pressure, chronic pain and other illnesses.
“People 55 and older who volunteer for two or more organizations have an impressive 44% lower likelihood of dying early,” writes Dr. Christine Carter. “And that’s after sifting out every other contributing factor, including physical health, exercise, gender, habits like smoking, marital status and many more. This is a stronger effect than exercising four times a week or going to church.”
Benefit #6 Volunteering Helps Build Skills
If you are considering a new career, or advancement in your current one, volunteering is a great way to learn new skills. If you are considering a career in geriatric care, for example, volunteering at your local seniors’ centre is a great way to meet older adults and understand some of their needs. This could apply to working with elders on your First Nations, at the local Community Living centre, your hospital’s hospice unit, or any opportunity that helps you learn how to work in your area of interest. Many volunteer positions offer extensive training that can help you in a formal career.
National Volunteer Week is April 14 to 20, 2024
As we reflect on each moment in the 2.5 million hours volunteered by Canadians, it’s clear that Every Moment does Matter and has a tremendous impact on our communities. At BC CRN, we are proud of the work we do across BC and know we couldn’t do our work without our volunteers. Volunteer Canada spearheads National Volunteer Week and has created excellent resources to help our local community resource networks thank our valuable volunteers. If you are a volunteer, thank you for all you do!
Explore our website to learn more about BC CRN or connect with your local CRN for more information or resources.
