April is National Volunteer Month, and as an avid volunteer for different causes, I definitely agree that giving back not only benefits others but it benefits yourself. One benefit to start off with is that it takes your mind off of your issues as you to help someone else. Singles have more opportunities to give back to the community than most married people do, so let’s use the spring time to start if you haven’t already committed volunteer work this year.
Volunteering is not boring!
Volunteering doesn’t have to feel like a chore or an obligation if you’re doing something that you love. There are hundreds of organizations and causes to support from food and clothing drives, to mentoring youth, to entertaining the residents of a senior home. If you don’t know where to start on your volunteer search, answer these questions for yourself: what kind of work do you like to do? What fields are you interested in (i.e. education, social justice, etc.)? Do you have any family or friends who are fighting a health battle that you want to bring awareness to? There are many avenues to volunteering, so don’t feel hesitant to give back in a fun and new way.
Volunteering impacts your network.
Volunteering has allowed me to share some great memories with friends as well as make new friends. Whether you volunteer at your church, have your own charitable organization, or participate in an annual event, you get to meet old and new faces each time. What’s great is that you’re already in a place with like minded individuals, so if you want to strike up conversation with someone, you already have something in common.
Volunteering is also a great way to increase and diversify your network. You get to work with event organizers and develop relationships that could benefit you in business or other endeavors for collaboration. I’ll make this note as well that you have a chance to meet someone new that you may be interested in dating. Yes, it’s a great thing to give back even if you don’t get anything in return, but to meet new people allows the door to new relationships to form in your professional and personal life.
Volunteering is sharing your world with others.
The word tells us “Never walk away from someone who deserves help; your hand is God’s hand for that person” (Proverbs 3:27 MSG). In areas in which you will impact people’s lives directly such as mentoring, there’s a satisfaction within that comes from providing a light and love to others. No man is alone nor operates alone; we need each other to get through each stage of life and by taking a little time out of your schedule to help someone else is a blessing.
Volunteering benefits you in which it takes away from your issues you may be facing and places you in a position to give to those who may have it worse off than you. Making and delivering lunches to the homeless in Chicago made me grateful for the little things I would take for granted at home. Being available to give to those in need took me out of my personal bubble and allowed me to show God’s love to someone else. Be present and see that there is so much that we could be affecting in this season. My encouragement to you is not to become a busy body, but to allow God to show you what He wants you to do in giving back or volunteering.
One of the few organizations and charities that I have volunteered with was Hashtag Lunchbag which sparked a national movement dedicated to serving the homeless. Other causes that you can volunteer for include breast cancer foundations, local food pantries, local government events, annual races, runs or walks for charity, local schools and shelters, your local YMCA or YWCA, your local church, and more. I can’t guarantee that you’ll find the love of your life in line serving the homeless, or reading to sick and shut in children at the local hospital. I will tell you that do something for others, while taking focus off of what could be or hasn’t happened yet, can lead to a more fulfilling single season.
Hey BMWK fam, what are your favorite ways to volunteer and help others?