Throughout the country, millions of people have found fulfillment donating their time to causes and organizations that support missions that interest them. The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), a federal agency that finances and runs AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, the Volunteer Generation Fund, and others, estimates that more than 64 million Americans volunteer nearly 8 billion hours each year.
Here at CiminoCare, we encourage volunteering. The best approach is to find an opportunity that interests you, and do what you’re passionate about.
By helping others, volunteers not only contribute untold value to their chosen organizations, but they also reap the benefits themselves. Studies have connected volunteering with reduced depression and enhanced brain activity. Active volunteering also correlates with living longer, healthier, more meaningful lives.
Finding opportunities is easier than you think. Ask for recommendations from friends, family, and colleagues, check the websites of organizations of interest, or use search engines to find the types of volunteer opportunities available. Start with the websites VolunteerMatch.org, Serve.gov, and for a long-term, full-time commitment NationalService.gov.
