Community Service: Top 10 Reasons to Volunteer

Thinking of becoming a volunteer? See a list of reasons that will help you make up your mind.

#10: It’s good for you.

  • Volunteering provides physical and mental rewards.
  • Reduces stress: Experts report that when you focus on someone other than yourself, it interrupts usual tension-producing patterns.
  • Makes you healthier: Moods and emotions, like optimism, joy, and control over one’s fate, strengthen the immune system.

#9: It saves resources.

  • Volunteering provides valuable community services so more money can be spent on local improvements.
  • The estimated value of a volunteer’s time is $15.39 per hour.

#8: Volunteers gain professional experience.

  • You can test out a career.

#7: It brings people together.

  • As a volunteer you assist in uniting people from diverse backgrounds to work toward a common goal
  • Building camaraderie and teamwork

#6: It promotes personal growth and self-esteem.

  • Understanding community needs helps foster empathy and self-efficacy.

#5: Volunteering strengthens your community.

  • Support families (daycare and eldercare)
  • Improve schools (tutoring, literacy)
  • Support youth (mentoring and after-school programs)
  • Beautify the community (beach and park cleanups)

#4: You learn a lot.

  • Self: Volunteers discover hidden talents that may change your view on your self worth.
  • Government: Through working with local non-profit agencies, volunteers learn about the functions and operation of our government.
  • Community: Volunteers gain knowledge of local resources available to solve community needs.

#3: You get a chance to give back.

  • People like to support community resources that they use themselves or that benefit people they care about.

#2: Volunteering encourages civic responsibility.

  • Community service and volunteerism are an investment in our community and the people who live in it.

#1: You make a difference.

  • Every person counts! (Center for Student Involvement, UC San Diego)

The full article can be accessed at https://www.wcsu.edu/community-engagement/