Have you ever asked yourself 'Why would I bother volunteering'? or maybe you are new to the community and are wondering how to meet people. There are a lot of reasons why people volunteer. Some people think you have to be self-less and only volunteer to give. The reality is that while it is often better if we give from the heart with no expectations of return, we really do get more than we give when we volunteer. Whether you want to give back to your community or meet new people, here are a number of the benefits you might receive when you volunteer:
What’s in it for me?
Broadening social circle
Fun
Sense of accomplishment
Connecting needs with interests/passions
Sense of belonging
Ownership of community
Skills building
Social connections
Friendships
Job skills
Possibly lead to employment
Appreciation/appreciated
Employers look at volunteer interests & experience
Goal setting
Meet high school & university requisite
Opportunity to teach/share knowledge
Community service
Serve community through restitution
Opportunity to learn/education
Self-esteem/confidence building
‘Why not you?’
Local governments would have to increase taxes to do all the things volunteers handle
