Why I Volunteer

I volunteer because I love feeling part of something larger than myself. The sense of community and connection that comes from volunteering is unlike any other feeling. When you volunteer, you are giving your time and energy to a cause you care about and gaining so much in return. Volunteering allows you to meet new people, learn new skills, and make a difference in your community.

Nonprofit organizations rely on volunteers to help them fulfill their mission and serve the community. Without volunteers, many nonprofits would not be able to function or provide the same level of service. When business owners and entrepreneurs give their time to volunteer, they are not only supporting a good cause, but they are also gaining valuable experiences and connections that can benefit their businesses. If you have ever considered volunteering but needed help figuring out where to start, I hope this blog post inspires you to get involved!

I volunteer because I want to make a difference in the world.

What drives me to volunteer is a deep-rooted belief that everyone can make a difference in tackling the world's most pressing issues. From global warming to hunger and poverty, I believe that with dedication and collaboration, we can make strides in improving the state of our world — one community at a time. That's why I choose to volunteer; I passionately seek to have an impact beyond my daily life. Each opportunity to offer my time and resources to those most in need brings me closer to accomplishing this goal. As Dr. Jane Goodall says: "What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make." We can all add our unique values and perspective on how we interact with the world's various problems, and by doing so, everyone can become united in creating real change on a global scale.

Through volunteer work at a local animal shelter, I felt my life take on a newfound purpose. Every morning I eagerly awoke knowing that the puppies were waiting for me, desperately needing food and attention to make it through until they could find their forever homes. It was an incredibly gratifying experience as our hard work had an immediate impact; not only could we see more dogs being adopted into loving homes with each passing day, but even those "less adoptable" dogs gained new skills due to our care so they too could find their forever homes. While fostering one dog, I was inspired to see the direct impact that freeing up a single kennel at my local animal shelter had. My actions gave many other dogs a chance for love and life - proving just how powerful even small gestures can be!

When you volunteer, you learn new skills and gain valuable experience.

Volunteering is much more than a chance to do something for the greater good; it's an opportunity to enrich your life and expand your skill sets. When you volunteer, you learn new skills that can benefit you in both personal and professional contexts. From problem-solving and communication to leadership and organization, the experiences you gain from volunteering often prove invaluable later. On top of that, it allows you to meet interesting people and network in your industry while giving back to your community. And even if none of those outcomes come to fruition, you get the satisfaction of knowing that your efforts made a positive difference in someone's life.

Seeking something more rewarding than my previous corporate analytics role, in 2019, I embraced the power of volunteering. I used it to chart a new professional path - transitioning into digital strategy consulting. Thanks to this bold move, I was able not only to expand on what I already knew but also to gain essential leadership skills that were beyond what I would have experienced in my previous job.

Volunteering is a great way to give back to your community.

Volunteering is an incredible way to enrich the lives of those in our communities while also providing immense benefits to ourselves. It is a powerful tool for creating positive and lasting change, whether on a local or global scale. Volunteering contributes exponentially to good causes and can be personally rewarding by helping us learn more about others, break out of our daily routines and gain invaluable life experience. By volunteering just a tiny amount of time each week, we can make a big difference in the lives of those around us and create meaningful ripples that propagate through our communities.

Check out this short video I submitted for a TED talk about why we should normalize volunteering.

Volunteering is one of the most important things we can do to make our world a better place. Unfortunately, it's often seen as a "nice thing to do" instead of a fundamental part of our society. In this video, I talk about why volunteering needs to be normalized and how it can benefit both the individual and the community.

I volunteer because I'm grateful for my life and want to share my privilege.

I believe it is crucial to pass our abundance of knowledge, experiences, and resources forward. Through doing this, we can create sustainable methods that will improve the lives of those around us and provide access to opportunities for everyone. Volunteering is an excellent way for me to do this – and I'm incredibly grateful for the chance to use my voice and resources wisely. We all have unique skill sets and backgrounds, which can be used in ways that can transform lives. Every single one of us has something special – whether it's insight or experience -to offer for good causes. That's why volunteering is such an incredible opportunity, allowing us to extend the good fortune we have been blessed with to those less fortunate.

In conclusion, I volunteer to make a difference in the world. It's also a great way to meet new people and make friends, learn new skills and gain valuable experience, give back to your community, and express gratitude for what you have. If you are volunteering or have volunteered in the past, I'd love to hear from you! Contact me if you're interested in being interviewed about your experiences.