Benefits of Volunteering

Alexdandra Levit at Water Cooler Wisdom recently posted about the different benefits of volunteering outside of the valid, but obvious “to feel good and give back” answers. Two of the reasons that resonate with me are:

• A say over your destiny and a sense of purpose: So much of what happens in life we can’t control, but volunteering allows us to choose how and where we spend our time and efforts, and allows us to make a tangible difference in the world. This especially comes in handy if you work in a situation where the means in which you help others is a little murky – for example, in a corporate law firm or a consumer goods company.
  
• The ability to try out a leadership role: Volunteer organizations need people to coordinate projects, and they usually aren’t picky about how old you are, your background, or your experience. You may find yourself in a position to achieve more than you ever dreamed possible.

Take a look at the rest of the list at Ms. Levit's work and life blog.

OYFP allows me to have a positive impact on the Boston community, whereas at work, it is sometimes hard to see that type of impact. With OYFP, I get to share my knowledge of PR and run with it. Plus, I've meet lots of great people as well! Why do you volunteer?

And for those of you who don’t volunteer, but would like to, as always, OYFP welcomes new members! If OYFP isn't up your alley, here a few places to start to find something that fits your interests and location:

• VolunteerMatch


• Network for Good


• idealist.org