Volunteering your time, energy and money does not only give your life more meaning. Studies show that those who work to further the causes they value also tend to be happier and healthier, experience fewer aches and pains, and live longer!

If you feel strongly about something, such as animals, homelessness, women’s rights, poverty, the elderly or needy children, it could be the start of a wonderful volunteering experience.

Choose a volunteer opportunity that matches your skills

Do you love to work with people, animals or numbers? Are you good with your hands? Do you love to speak or write? Charity organisations need people willing to fill envelopes right through to those willing to serve as board members.

You could:

    • Organise a fun run for breast cancer or for women and children against abuse
    • Teach people how to read or work on a computer
    • Help at a soup kitchen, a hospital, children’s home, retirement centre or animal shelter
    • Coach sport at a school
    • Build low-cost housing
    • Become a police reservist
    • Work for a political candidate
    • Clean up a vacant lot
    • Read to the blind or elderly
    • Conduct a choir
    • Provide the less fortunate with various skills such as how to plant a vegetable garden, sew or knit, weld or repair cars.

Identify the causes that you’re passionate about

Opportunities to volunteer abound. Look up organisations in your local telephone directory, newspapers or on Websites that deal with issues about which you care. Your church probably offers a variety of volunteer opportunities, and friends and family can possibly steer you toward charities that need your help.

Expect personal growth

You may be challenged by having to deal with people who are less educated than you are and who are from different backgrounds, but your stereotypes will crumble as you witness the dignity of all people no matter their circumstances.

Whatever charity you choose to volunteer for, you’ll be helping a good cause and helping yourself too; doing something for the common good promises to be a fulfilling experience.

 

Sources
http://nonprofit.about.com
www.charitynavigator.org
www.goodhousekeeping.com
www.wikihow.com/Volunteer