Volunteer Benefit Effect
The multiple benefits of volunteerism help to make the world a better place. Effecting positive change through personal sacrifice is a labor of love. If only one person can make a difference, two will benefit.
"Touching the life of someone or, altering it with such significance that is irrevocably changed for the better, is beneficial to all. The value of volunteering is so much more than a sacrifice of time. Helping others is to connect with them and for a time-share their life. By building these bridges of love it is inevitable that friendships will be born; conversely, allowing for an exchange of ideas. This is learning, the birth of a new world in everyone's eyes. "Only a life lived for others is worth living". Albert Einstein.
The Corporation for National and Community Service has compiled data from numerous studies that have been conducted on the benefits of volunteering. The group that seems to benefit most from volunteering is the over sixty crowd. The benefits vary from person to person but, the results are unanimously positive. In a study conducted by (Brown et al., 2005) found that regardless of ethnicity, marital status, gender or religion, those who provided social support to others had a lower mortality rate. The data suggests that, their sense of worth or their self-esteem increased; thus, volunteers tend to take better care of them selves physically, because they are not depressed. It is reasonable to conclude that for the sixty plus group there are tangible, physical benefits directly attributed to volunteer service.
In recent years, a phenomenon called "Pay it forward" has come to fruition. The movie "Pay it forward" was released in October 2000, generating much interest in helping others. Over the years, different media outlets and community groups have expounded on the original idea. Many have begun initiatives of their own based on these principles. Give someone what he or she desperately need without asking questions. The only thing they must do in return is to pay it forward to someone else in need. The idea being that if everyone paid it forward the world would be a better place.
A group of sixth grade students at Highlands Ranch Christian Middle School has done just that. They where shown a clip from the movie "Pay it Forward" and asked what it meant to them. After much discussion the students where asked to come up with a plan of their own. Their scope of the ideas was wide ranging. $100 was raised through the sales of doughnuts to help defray the cost of medical bills for a 5-year-old girl with cancer. $148 was raised at a bake sale to purchase school supplies for an orphanage in India. A group of avid babysitters donated their money to Tsunami victims. What these children have done is commendable. They have reached out the world and made it a little brighter.
A more subtle aspect of service to others is community building. When people collectively work together on a neighborhood project it strengthens the community; likewise, endearing themselves to the community and the community to them. A large family of caring individuals whom strive to improve their world becomes a formidable force. An overwhelming majority of community builders can affect enormous change. These volunteers tend to wage kindness on the world, a new sort of war. Fighting to make the community, they live in better, safer and livable for everyone.
Social responsibility is an important aspect of volunteer work. "Social responsibility is an ethical or ideological theory that an entity whether it is a government, corporation, organization or individual has a responsibility to society". (As defined on Wikipedia). This concept leads into the idea that personal actions can make a significant difference in the lives of others. A key component of many peoples decision to become a volunteer is that they have a desire to make a difference. The idea that one person can change the world is a very powerful concept. There are many reasons to volunteer; social responsibility is but one of many.
Do not be afraid to lend a hand when needed. The assistance you provide may not change your life but will certainly affect theirs. Being a volunteer is like becoming an earth bound angel, looking out for fellow men and women. "If you have much, give of your wealth; if you have little, give of your heart". (Arabian Proverb).
Regardless of motive, it is apparent that volunteers do make a difference. Giving what assistance they can is the foundation for creating a more amicable world. "Life's most urgent question is; what are you doing for others"? Martin Luther King, Jr. Caring is contagious. Pass it on to others and teach the children of the importance of caring. Live by example and remember, it only takes one person, one idea or, one action to change the world.
