People who volunteer tend to experience fewer aches and pains. Giving help to others protects overall health twice as much as aspirin protects against heart disease. People 55 and older who volunteer for two or more organizations have an impressive 44 percent lower likelihood of dying—and that’s after sifting out every other contributing factor, including physical health, exercise, gender, habits like smoking, marital status and many more. This is a stronger effect than exercising four times a week.
What We Get When We Give by Christine Carter
If this doesn’t encourage you to volunteer someplace I don’t know what will. Sociologist Christine Canter shares this quote and it pulled me in.
I am a volunteer. I have been all of my life. I have had the luxury the past 15 plus years to not be in the work force. I do not take that lightly – it is privilege and one I have had off and on during my adult life. I have no problem with working a job but I was never the full blown career minded woman and I am okay with that. Everyone has to find their passion and their balance and while mine was raising my family and supporting my husband it also allowed me the time to volunteer for many causes that I believe in.
Today is an exciting day in my little world of volunteering. The Ladies Luncheon Committee that I am a part of here in Connestee Falls is sponsoring a Drive Thru Graduation Fundraiser. Davidson River School in Transylvania County is referred to as The School of Opportunities. It is the high school for those students who do not thrive in the traditional school setting for whatever reason. I love that this school is here and that it is doing such a great job with its students.
When the group found out that a huge percentage of the graduating students could not afford the $25 cap and gown cost a plan was put into action. As one member stated “it’s a no brainer”. Along with their cap and gowns the students also get yard signs that indicate they are 2021 graduates. I applaud this group for seeing a need and jumping in to help provide funding and I am hopeful that at the end of the day today we will have over the amount needed for this project.
The other thing that is exciting about today is that our little Connestee Falls Library is opening up again for our residents and staff. Covid – 19 has shut it down for the past 13 months and I am itching to get back in there to shelve books and tidy up. I know our residents have missed it and it is going to be great to be back in there doing what all the valued volunteers do.
So while both of these projects are fun for me I am hopeful that they are helping my health as well. I am not sure about the research behind the quote at the top of my post but I would like to think that giving to others with our gifts of service and time can only be a healthy thing.
Tell me – what is your favorite volunteer activity if you have one? Remember to Comment for a Cause for Ohio Guidestone.
