National Volunteer Appreciation Month
As we recognize and honor many other groups and individuals on a daily basis, it is equally important for us to recognize and thank those who dedicate their time every day in making a difference in our community. April is National Volunteer month dedicated to recognizing all of the kind people in our communities who volunteer their time. Approximately 62.6 million people volunteered in the United States in one year according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 62.6 million…that’s A LOT of volunteers!
Volunteering is freely partaking in a task which in turn helps others as an essential way to give back. Volunteers are defined as people who perform unpaid labor for an organization. Volunteering can be done almost anywhere. At schools, non-profit organizations, churches, office buildings, etc. Some people volunteer for service hours, some for experience and some just for a feel-good opportunity. This has become such a common extracurricular activity for so many in the United States as the U.S. volunteer rate was 24.9 percent in 2015. Whether you volunteer just one time or volunteer on a weekly basis, volunteering brings people together in a positive atmosphere all working towards one common goal, to give back.
Studies have also been done on volunteering in association with healthy lifestyles. One study shows that volunteering lowers mortality and depression rates in comparison to those who do not volunteer. Volunteers leave happy and feel as if they have a higher purpose. According to a 2015 article published by Harvard Health Publications, “volunteering has positive implications that go beyond mental health.” Volunteering provides better physical health, which includes lower blood pressure rates and a longer lifespan. These are all positives impacts that volunteering can make on people.
Here at Crime Stoppers of Houston we sincerely appreciate all of our volunteers. You all make a positive impact in our everyday jobs and for us to have Houstonians reaching out because they WANT to volunteer is such a blessing to our organization. We have several different volunteer opportunities that become available throughout the year that range from assisting at our annual events to assembling Child ID Kits for our schools. Volunteering for us or any organization is a great way to become involved in the community.
I encourage everyone to volunteer at some point down the road, it is a great way to get involved for all age groups. For younger generations, it is a great resume builder and for older generations, it is a great networking branch and way to give back!
If you’re interested in volunteering for our organization, please let us know!
Posted by on 13 Apr 2017