Many people see community service as a chore, but it is so much more than that. Community service benefits you with a sense of accomplishment and a chance to better your neighborhood.
There are a wide range of community service benefits when you sign up to volunteer. Community service is a way to provide your community with help in any way you can. You might be cleaning up a park, assisting a houseless animal, or volunteering at a soup kitchen. Regardless, that feeling you get from helping others is priceless. The relationships you build with the people you work with and the people you help will have a lasting impression on you. It is a chance to have a positive impact on the world. Another great benefit is the sense of accomplishment you get from doing good on purpose.
There is so much happening around us that it can seem hard to catch a break at times. Volunteering activities allow us to reinvest that energy into our communities, to transition from feeling helpless to helpful. We need that as a reminder of our impact when choosing a constructive action opposed to a destructive one. It is not only beneficial to you as an individual but to the institutions around us. The needs of local communities aren’t always the first priority; community service benefits us on a direct level by shrinking that gap.
A prime example of this impact can be seen if we compare nonprofit-centered healthcare to traditional healthcare. Traditional medical groups are for-profit and may favor decisions that their Board of Drectors agree with, even if they do not align with the highest interests of their patients. Nonprofit hospitals abide by a “Community Benefits'' value system which is noted as “providing benefits to a class of persons that is broad enough to benefit the community”, under the Affordable Care Act. This allows charitable hospitals to receive a tax exemption and as a result, their best interest is to do right by the patients they serve.
The real-world benefits of this could mean offering wellness options that expand accessibility for local residents, such as an exam with payment available on a sliding scale or for free. Think of the number of people and families who wouldn’t be able to access quality healthcare if these hospitals no longer received funding. Instead of taking a step back, community service gives us the opportunity to raise awareness with our actions and strengthen existing opportunities for community-based care.
What are the community service benefits you may experience by volunteering, on an individual and community level? There are a few things to be aware of before you jump in and commit to a project and organization. Here are the pros and cons:
Community service can get you out of your comfort zone by helping you to make friends or strengthen existing relationships. This can be helpful if you’re engaging in an opportunity that requires weekly or monthly participation to adequately invest in these connections. It’s an opportunity to explore activities that can be fun with people from diverse backgrounds. Your experiences can also become wonderful memories in helping to make the world a better place with your loved ones.
Community organizations need the support of local volunteers like you to keep moving. Without it, most organizations wouldn't be able to sustain their efforts. By volunteering, you’re not only supporting their work, but you’re saving them money and allowing them to reinvest into the communities they serve. A great example of this is when you volunteer with environmental nonprofits that center around national parks. Wxith the help of volunteers, they get to continue their conservation work without interruption. Meanwhile, you gain more experience and can raise awareness about the need to preserve our parks. Now that is inspiring!
Older adults can have issues with maintaining a sharp focus as time passes, especially those in senior homes. By volunteering, they’re able to practice problem-solving and be mentally stimulated in a consistent manner. This can present itself as a new lease on life if you’re retired and would love to participate in a meaningful activity with others. It’s also great for mental health and helping you destress. This can aid in slowing down the aging process, burning stubborn belly fat, and even in preventing illnesses such as heart disease and Alzheimer’s. It is noted that people who volunteer over 100 hours a year are some of the healthiest in the United States- isn’t that amazing?! Try adding more volunteer hours to your routine to improve your well-being.
Community service gives you the opportunity to brush up on old skills, master your current skill set, and diversify your resume with new skills. No matter what level you stand on within your career, it can be beneficial. Outside of the work you can do, it’s also advantageous for volunteers that want to take on leadership roles. Many exceptional volunteers go on to improve their communication, problem solving, and public speaking skills, as well as self-confidence. Over half of volunteers on Catchafire stay involved beyond the first project, with many becoming repeat volunteers, donors, or Board members. Additionally, school-aged youth can utilize volunteering to boost their college applications and college students can volunteer to boost their post-grad job search. Volunteering provides a significant stepping stone in personal and professional growth.
Community service allows you to travel without ever leaving your house! Since there are local and global nonprofits with volunteering activities and opportunities available on Catchafire, you are able to explore diverse perspectives and learn new information whenever you’d like. By working with international organizations, you can learn about various languages, cultures, and traditions, which can help your portfolio stand out and shine.
Volunteering requires you to utilize critical thinking skills at a typically fast pace for problem-solving. If you’re used to making decisions and moving based on what’s familiar, this will challenge you in the best of ways. It gives you the chance to meet new people and welcome innovative ways to approach issues. Additionally, if you’ve found yourself stuck in a professional rut, this is one easy way to experiment with your skill set and get a tangible assessment of your mastery.
Community service can be fun, whether it’s by yourself or with family and friends. By contributing to opportunities that will impact the lives of others, it makes the experience more enjoyable and builds relationships that can last a lifetime. If you are an introvert, you can easily complete opportunities from home. However, if you are an extrovert, there are plenty of in-person opportunities to help you get started.
Sign up to become a virtual volunteer on Catchafire! Catchafire allows you to choose from 24 different cause areas and 35 skill-sets to find your perfect volunteer experience. You can support nonprofits immediately through one-hour consultation calls for specific questions and needs, or take on a longer-term project (5-50 hours) to provide support in areas like IT, finance, marketing, design, HR, and more. Whether you would like to help create an operating budget for an environment-focused organization or offer a 1-hour marketing strategy consultation, there is an array of flexible options available.
When you join Catchafire as a volunteer, you can filter volunteer opportunities by cause areas. Some of our most popular cause areas with open projects include:
High-need opportunities you could find on Catchafire include nonprofits representing:
Engaging in community service is one of the best hobbies you could have. There are a multitude of community service benefits, both on a community level and on an individual level. It’s a feel-good activity that is a win-win on all fronts. Together, we can collaborate to make the world a better place and ensure that all community needs are met.
Interested in getting started on Catchafire? Explore volunteer opportunities that have been personalized for your unique skill set and cause areas here. You’ll be sure to experience these community service benefits firsthand!