How Volunteering Helps You and Your Community

Volunteering is the backbone of every community no matter its size. Not only does it benefit the community, but also every single volunteer. A community becomes closer, more sustainable, and easier to run when volunteers step up to the plate. For the volunteers, their mental health improves, they have a sense of purpose, and they learn a thing or two along the way.

Where to Volunteer in Your Community

You might not know where to look for volunteer opportunities when new to a community, or even if you have lived there for a prolonged period, which is why I have compiled a list of volunteer opportunities for you. Some of the most common places to volunteer include the following:

• EMS squads
• Fire departments
• Local libraries
• Churches
• Animal shelters
• Food banks
• Hospitals
• Community centers
• Non-profit organizations
• Habitat for Humanity
• Parks and recreation departments
• Youth sports organizations (coaches, officials, snack stand, groundskeeper)

Now this is in no way an exhaustive list, but it is a start for someone who is looking to find the right volunteering opportunity for themselves, their teen, or another family member. You can also volunteer on your own by doing any of the following:

• Hold a clothing drive
• Host a food drive
• Start a community garden
• Offer to drive seniors to and from doctor’s appointments
• Offer care to an elderly neighbor

Volunteering in 2023

Volunteering in 2023 is not what it once was five years ago or even three years ago. Volunteerism took a major hit when the pandemic reared its ugly head. With so many places mandated to close, volunteers were unable to help those who were in need during such a difficult time.

Despite the difficulties of the pandemic, more than 60 million Americans volunteered in one way or another in 2021. Even though this number is impressive, data shows that volunteering is down compared to 20 years ago. According to data from AmeriCorps and the U.S. Census Bureau, fewer than one-quarter of Americans aged 16 and older volunteered from 2020 to 2021. This is a decline of 27.6 percent from 20 years prior.

The Benefits of Volunteering

Volunteering has a slew of benefits for the organization, community, and the actual volunteer. These benefits include the following:

• Connect a community
• Take some burden off of the taxpayers
• Improve the morale of the community
• Improve the mental health of the volunteer
• Volunteers can make new and lifelong friends
• Volunteers can learn a sense of pride, community, and accomplishment
• Volunteers can combat depression
• Volunteers can increase their self confidence
• Helps beautify communities
• Helps strengthen confidence, skills, and other traits of the community’s youth

Organizations Close to My Heart

Volunteering has been part of my life since I was a child. Growing up in a Catholic school environment (St. Joan of Arc in Marlton and Holy Cross High School in Delran), it was ingrained in us from a young age to volunteer wherever and whenever possible.

The passion to volunteer followed me into college and my adult life. In 2013, I joined the Cinnaminson Fire Department as a volunteer fire police officer as a way to honor my late father-in-law and to provide support for the community in which I live. I recently hit my 10-year anniversary in September with the CFD. The sad fact of the matter is that volunteerism in the fire service and every other organization out there that relies on volunteers is down.

The other organization close to my heart is St. Charles Borromeo Parish and School in Cinnaminson. Nicole is in her 14th year teaching at her alma mater, our boys are students in 6th and 3rd grade, and I am in my fifth year as Director of Marketing. We rely heavily on parent/guardian/parishioner volunteers throughout the school year, but especially in June when we host our annual carnival.

If you are looking for something new in your life, consider volunteering for an organization in your town or county. We surely could use the help at our annual carnival in June, even if you can provide us with just a few hours on one of the nights. We are also always looking for volunteers (EMS, Firefighter, Fire Police Officer, Contributing Member) at the CFD. The department provides all the training, uniforms, and equipment necessary.

Now for a shameless plug. Be sure to check out yesterday’s blog post: Do We No Longer Follow the Rules of the Road? Don’t forget to subscribe to The Jimmy V Archives so you are notified whenever new content is published. Thanks for reading!