According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics as of September 2009 63.4 million Americans are volunteering annually, that is 26.8 percent of the population (“Volunteering” par. 1). Those numbers show great deal of people are enjoying the warm and fuzzy feeling from volunteering, but there always could be more. Most volunteers are women aged 35 to 54 years old (“Volunteering” par. 4). Adults who have higher education such as bachelors degree or higher are more likely to volunteer then those that do not. Adults 65 years and old account for 8,712 volunteers (“Volunteering” par. 9). These numbers are great but there are so many more people that should be taking advantage of all of the volunteering opportunities that are available.
Reports published by Bureau of Labor Statistics show that the most common form of
Gioffredi 2
volunteering is fundraising (“Volunteering” par 16). Nearly 11.3 percent of all volunteer work is fundraising. I would assume that fundraising is the easiest form of volunteering , but based on my own personal experience the volunteer is going to get the most benefit from direct person to person contact. Collecting and preparing food was the next most common way to volunteer. 10.3 percent of men and women volunteers were involved in this. On a sunny Saturday afternoon I got to participate in collecting and preparing food. I was not a member of the church that was organizing the event, but they were warm and welcoming to me. They made me feel as if I had always be a part of their once a month Saturday ritual. We prepared spaghetti, garlic bread, salad, and brownies. After everything was cooked and packaged, we had the pleasure of passing the meals out to the homeless. Out of all of the volunteering activities that I have been involved in during my quest, this was my favorite. I met some incredible people and felt like I actually touched the lives of many people. I feel that this could be something that I could do one Saturday a month for the rest of my life.
In the past research has focused on the benefits received in the community from
volunteering, but in recent years this focus has shifted more on the benefits you receive when you take the time to volunteer. Volunteering has shown to give a new sense of purpose to our older population which has helped them to keep active. The positive effects of volunteering are felt mentally and physically by the person volunteering. It helps people to maintain a strong social network that would not normally be there. According to Adam Voiland in his article “Volunteering Maybe Be Good For Your Health” as little as two hours a week will give added health benefits (“Volunteering” par. 2). He states there is a “helpers high” which is caused by oxytocin released into
Gioffredi 3
the body ( “Volunteering” par 3). I have experienced this helpers high and was amazed at how it
made me felt like I was invincible. It gave me energy and made me feel like I was on top of the world. Just think if everyone took a small amount of their time to volunteer they would find this high to be something they can’t get enough of.
According to Corporation for National and Community Service being involved in volunteer activities gives the abilities to strengthen social ties to protect individuals from isolation during difficult times (“Benefits” 6). It also leads to a sense of self worth and trust. Volunteering can also reduce depression in older adults. A study of older adults provides data supporting that retirees have more life satisfaction when they are involved in volunteering (Harlow and Cantor 1996). Just from my short stint with volunteering I can see how this would benefit everyone young and old.
Analysis of data from The Longititudal Study of Aging showed that people who volunteered had lower mortality rates then those who did not volunteer (Sabin 3). People who volunteered aged 55 years or older showed to have a significant drop in mortality rates. On top of lower mortality rates they also expressed lower amounts of pain and better overall health. These benefits are amplified when the volunteers are working one on one with another human being. After reading these findings, how could someone not immediately sign up to start volunteering. If you could do something good for others as well as doing something beneficial to themselves.
There is a threshold of volunteering though according to Assets and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old Survey (“Individual“ p3). The maximum benefits are achieved by volunteering no more then 100 hours per year or approximately 2 hours per week. No additional benefits were noticed if more then 2 hours of volunteering per week. Just think of what a small
Gioffredi 4
amount of time 2 hours a week is. A few hours of your time every week will make a great impact on your community as well as give you added health benefits.
Research on the benefit of younger people involved in volunteering is still being done. Everyone who volunteers will benefit by making a difference in their community and with volunteering you can: solve problems, strengthen communities, improve lives, connect to others, and transform our own lives. No matter if you are wanting to help touch the life of someone else or to transform your life the effects of volunteering is great for all.
Works Cited
“Benefits of Volunteering.” Corporation of National and Community Service
“The Health Benefits Of Volunteering.” Corporation for National and Community Service 2007
Luoh, M-C and Herzog, A.R. (2002) “Individual Consequences of Volunteer and Paid Work In Old Age: Health and Mortality.” Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 43(4), 490-509.
Voiland, Adam, “Volunteering May Be Good For Your Health.” 7 May 2007
“Volunteering In The United States.” News Release 26 January 2010.
No comments:
Post a Comment