Volunteer

Helping others helps us all! There are some surprising benefits to volunteering for a cause you care about. In addition to helping the organization that you’re volunteering for, you get the benefit of improving your own mental health. 

Volunteering helps to provide a sense of purpose, which positively effects mood and increases your self-esteem. It feels great to be a part of something that you know is making a difference in someone's life. 

Also, when you volunteer with an organization that aligns with your interests, you can build lasting relationships through the process, expanding your sense of community. 

If you volunteer in community that is outside your typical area, whether geographically or outside of your typical interests, you get to learn about different ways of living. You get a chance to learn about people who are different from you, which helps expand your world view. Even people who live near you can have a completely different experience of life and working side by side to volunteer for a good cause can be a great way to increase social skills and empathy. 

Try This

Check out the volunteer opportunities in Michigan:

• https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/inside-mdhhs/comm-resources-volunteer
• There may also be more specific volunteer opportunities at Henry Ford Health

If you are in another state, do a search on your state government website for volunteer opportunities. 

References:

• Helping people, changing lives: 3 health benefits of volunteering
• 15 Unexpected Benefits of Volunteering That Will Inspire You
• Why Volunteer? 7 Benefits of Volunteering that Will Inspire You to Take Action