I live in a city with over 1 million people and was quite surprised to read that over 71% of the population in Calgary, Canada volunteer an average of 15 hours each month. Wow! This staggering number is just about 25% higher than the national average in Canada for those ages 15 and older. Both of these statistics show me just how much we care about the community we live in and how we are not afraid to roll up our sleeves and put action behind our words!
The four areas with the highest volunteer rates in Canada are:
Sports and Recreation – 12%
Social Services – 12%
Education and Research – 10%
Religion – 9%
With our lives being so busy with never ending responsibilities, commitments and obligations, this high rate of volunteerism makes me curious about what keeps people motivated to be so very generous with their time on a regular basis.
For me the answer to this is easy. For over five years I have been a regular volunteer for various causes that have a place in my heart, whether it be with Special Olympics, the Calgary Drop-In and Rehab Centre Society, the Association for the Rehabilitation of the Brain Injured and the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Clinic at the Foothills Hospital. Not only have I met amazing people and had the chance to listen to their stories, (we all have one!), I’ve been able to see the real difference that I’ve made in the lives of others by simply being present and giving up a few hours of my time each week.
I’m deeply touched when I see the eyes of those I’ve helped light up when they talk to me, their body language often conveying much greater appreciation than words could ever express.
For me, this reward far exceeds any monetary compensation or getting any formal recognition or acknowledgement for my time and actions.
By gifting someone of your time you are offering a hand up not a handout.
There are many benefits to being a volunteer that can play a part to draw people into wanting to get involved. While some may be fleeting, others may stay with you the rest of your life. When you are involved in any activity that you are passionate about, energy just seems to appear out of nowhere providing you with the ability to escape from reality for a few hours.
Benefits to Volunteering
The Community Impact
This is your chance to be the glue that holds the community together by making it a better place for everyone. Even the smallest of acts can make a huge difference in the lives of people, animals and organizations. It’s an opportunity to bond with other likeminded people who share a similar interest in the same cause as you and it also gives you a chance to expand your network and make new friends as you work towards a common goal.
Your Health and Well-Being
Volunteering is good for the mind, body and soul. Depending on what the activity is, you may get a physical workout (i.e. painting a house or walking through a park and picking up litter) or you could find yourself surrounded by puppies and kittens at a local animal shelter where you can instantly feel your level of stress and anxiety melt away. Simply put, giving back makes you feel good and this can boost your self-confidence, self-esteem and general satisfaction with life.
Corporate World
Volunteering can provide you with an opportunity to increase your knowledge, experience and provide you with job skills that you can easily transfer back into your current or future job. Many volunteering experiences provide extensive training, for example coaches with Special Olympics are required to participate in a two-day workshop, where you are likely to learn new skills that you can carry forward into other areas of your life. You may be able to get your foot in the door in a professional organization you’d like to be involved in or be part of a board of directors that will help you in strengthening your skills in communication, speaking and influencing.
Increased Fun and Fulfillment
Volunteering provides you with a brief respite from reality allowing you to relax and leave the day-to-day stresses in your life behind. By exploring your interests and passions you may find yourself walking away with a renewed sense of creativity and motivation that you can apply to other areas of your life. If you’re in a time crunch, plan your volunteer work around one of your hobbies so you are able to meet two needs at once. If you like being out in nature, you may want to sign up to help paint fences along a hiking pathway.
How You Can Get and/or Stayed Involved
Whether you are a seasoned volunteer or someone who is looking to venture out into this arena for the first time, below are a few ideas on how you can explore what may be available in your area.
Find out if a local volunteer centre exists in your area and what opportunities exist. Currently there are over 200 in Canada and all play a strategic role in identifying what areas have the greatest need and how you can get involved.
If you are going to put in your time and energy into something, why not target where the need is the greatest?
Look at finding a match between your personality and interest. For example, are you looking to be involved in something that you are already good at or would you like to try something new? Do you want to see a different way of life and explore new places? If so, then you may to see what Red Cross has to offer rather than being part of a locally based project.
Get real clear about how much time you have to commit and if you would prefer to lead a group of people or have more of a behind the scenes role. Continue to narrow it down further by looking at if you’d like to work with adults, children or animals and if you’d like to be part of a group or you’d prefer to be alone.
Whether you are currently already regularly volunteering or contemplating how you can become one, it’s my hope that the information I’ve shared will be a motivator to get and/or stay involved!
“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.”
― Charles Dickens
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Thanks Denise! Your blog article helps put a frame around how I can approach my next phase of volunteering. Great food for thought; you provided insights into better understanding what will motivate me, instead of just thinking I “should volunteer.”