Volunteerism contributes free labor to conduct community service or support a nonprofit organization, and April is volunteer appreciation month. An estimated 60.7 million Americans formally volunteered with organizations between September 2020 and 2021, working 4.1 billion hours and contributing an economic value of $122.9 billion.
Impressive.
People around us give time and expertise with no monetary payback daily—churches, schools, service organizations such as Rotary, hospitals, craft and art fairs, athletic events, concerts, and the list is endless.
This month is about appreciating all that effort—bringing awareness to the millions of people who put on comfortable shoes, show up, follow directions, and help the rest of us have a seamless, safe, and fun experience.
Volunteers are common and often overlooked. Neighbors are an example: One neighbor feeds my rose bushes, and another climbs a ladder to check my gutters or change a lightbulb. On the farm, neighbors came for miles to fight a hay bale fire, brand cattle, and plow fields to keep the topsoil from blowing into the next county.
Priceless.
Random Google information about volunteers:
64.0% of all volunteers are women
Utah is the state with the highest volunteer rate
Florida has the fewest volunteers
Americans 70 and older who volunteer tend to live longer
Gen Xers (born between 1965 and 1980) volunteer the most.
Volunteers, on average, spend 50 hours/year donating to the greater good
Working with animals is the most common volunteering
The American Red Cross, founded in 1881, primarily operates with volunteers
Hunger and homelessness causes are the most supported in the US
32% of volunteers in America are involved in religious organizations
Like most of you reading this article, I have volunteered. A few that come to mind include two weeks with the Red Cross after Katrina; creating a church cry room and Sunday Catechism; picking up trash in many cities while walking; being an officer and serving on professional boards; and writing this weekly column since 2010.
Whether you are like me and prefer to volunteer for personal priorities on your schedule, or want to be included with a larger group, now is the time to appreciate yourself and those who do so much around you and for you.
When I help someone, mainly if the task corresponds to what I enjoy and value, it benefits my mental and physical health–I think higher, sleep deeper, and smile broader.
Volunteers are often unnoticed worker bees who contribute because it is the right thing. Most don’t need big hooplas, but a little appreciation keeps them giving and sparks their souls.
No-brainer.
Until the next time: Live while you live.
Jennifer Goble, Ph.D., LPC, is the author of “My Clients…My Teachers,” and the blogger and writer of Rural Women Stories: www.ruralwomenstories.com.
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