Whether you have 2 hours per month or 10 hours per month to give, Restoring Connections might be the right fit for your skills and interest.
Volunteering is a selfless act, but it doesn’t have to be one more thing to fit into an already busy schedule. Volunteering can simplify your life and it has a lot of personal benefits.
Studies done by Carnegie Mellon University and Harvard Health publishing show that volunteering lowers blood pressure and strengthens the immune system. Knowing that you are doing something to benefit others helps you to feel more socially connected and protects against depression and loneliness. It can help you develop new skills and meet new people. It gives the opportunity to invest in something that you feel passionate about and is a way to bring about needed change in the world. It does make a difference in the world and in the lives of individuals. Yes, it is a sacrifice initially, but as we connect relationally with others, we gain a clearer perspective on our own priorities and find greater focus and meaning.
Volunteering also has a community benefit. It saves important financial resources. It helps to fill gaps in critical community services and meet real needs. Every hour that we give through volunteering is an hour that the community gains back in real dollars. The Independent Sector calculated the current national value of a volunteer hour is $29.95. Barbara Stewart, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service, also reminds us, “The fabric of our nation is strengthened by the service of its volunteers. When we stand side-by-side to help others, our differences fade away, and we learn that Americans have more in common than we realize.” In summary, volunteerism not only saves resources for the community; it’s what brings us together.”