Volunteering is more than just the “day of service” that we read about in our company newsletter or on the home screen of our intranet. Those who desire to volunteer have many reasons and motives for wanting to do so. Many organizations have commitments to corporate social responsibility – a business approach that contributes to sustainable development by delivering economic, social and environmental benefits for all stakeholders. These efforts can range from donating money to nonprofits to implementing environmentally-friendly policies in the workplace, to having employees and executives volunteer. Sharing our strengths and giving our time to organizations that need our help only betters our business as a whole.
A struggle that many individuals and organizations have is knowing where help is needed and where their skills and passions can be best leveraged for good. Selfless.ly does just that. Selfless.ly is a platform for all that makes “doing good” easier and more accessible by connecting businesses with nonprofits, residents with communities, and causes with commerce.
Volunteering is Good For Our Health
Volunteering keeps us healthy. A report by A Corporation for National and Community Service notes: “Those who volunteer have lower mortality rates, greater functional ability, and lower rates of depression later in life than those who do not volunteer.” When we shift the focus from ourselves to others, our stress levels can decrease, our immune systems strengthen and our overall sense of life satisfaction increases. Helping also elevates your sense of purpose, magnifies positive emotions and increases confidence levels.
Volunteering Builds Soft Skills
Depending on where you decide to volunteer, whether for one organization or multiple, the act of service provides the opportunity to develop and enhance soft skills. Where we volunteer and what we do when we volunteer may differ from what skills or educational background we currently have. These opportunities to stretch allow for personal development and growth. Volunteering gives us the opportunity to be a part of something bigger than ourselves and use our skills for the the greater good of local and global communities.
Give Back to a Cause We Believe In and Connect with Others
Volunteering often begins where our passions lie. Maybe it is a love animals, a battle with an illness, or a desire to teach that motivates our desire to volunteer. Allowing our actions to to be led from a place of passionate intention and being committed to the cause makes our impact that much bigger. Finding other people that share the same passion or connection to a cause creates a bond that many crave.
“Our human compassion binds us the one to the other - not in pity or patronizingly, but as human beings who have learnt how to turn our common suffering into hope for the future.” -Nelson Mandela
Building a better world is all of our business. As humans, we crave connection. Volunteering allows us to do a small act of good that will impact our community for the better. We all may not have money to give to a charity or an organization, but we do all have time. Giving our time makes us feel happy, fosters a human connection and keeps us healthy.
Where do you enjoy volunteering and sharing your strengths? Register to be a hero today.
