The Many Benefits of Volunteering

We face an urgent need today to bring people together and foster kindness, consideration, and empathy. Yet one of the best ways to do this – volunteerism – has been declining since 2003 (US Census Bureau, National Council for NonProfits).

At the same time, there are no shortage of problems that need fixing in our community. We’re experiencing unprecedented levels of environmental degradation, health challenges, and income inequality. The demand for nonprofit services has been increasing while donor support has dwindled. Isn’t it a good time to pull ourselves away from our screens and step out for face-to-face volunteer opportunities that help the flora, fauna, and people in our communities?

Volunteerism Heals a Fractured Society

A recent Washington Post editorial entitled “Americans can fix their fraying society,” found that Americans suffer from increased loneliness and isolation from each other – which can be addressed and healed through volunteerism. “Today, the United States doesn’t face a common external foe akin to the British crown — or the Soviet Union, as in the Cold War. Instead, cultural shifts among Americans threaten to make the country more divided and weaker…These cultural shifts are visible not just in increasing partisan polarization but also in how Americans relate to one another day by day. Americans volunteer less than they used to, increasingly making more time for their own hobbies, but not to help others…If volunteering rates now were similar to the early 2000s, about 12 million more people would volunteer each year. Many charities say they are seeing this firsthand as they struggle to get enough help…”

Similarly, CEO of Points of Light Jennifer Sirangelo wrote a Forbes article entitled “The Decline In Volunteering Is Driving Increased Division.” Despite the Edelman Trust Barometer‘s finding of an overwhelming “lack of civility and mutual respect” in society, Sirangelo finds hope at the thought that “Volunteering brings people together to solve a common problem… Working side by side with people different than us helps us see each other’s humanity. We feel we’re in the trenches together, with a shared goal of improving our communities.”

With the Scout search engine, it’s finally possible to search the Internet and find volunteer activities near us. Using generative AI, Scout seeks out activities that are ‘doing good’ in our local communities. It attempts to screen out activities that place a monetary burden on participants – those that ask volunteers to fundraise or buy items for ‘drives’. Instead, Scout supports people in giving of ourselves (applying our skills and enthusiasm), so we improve our world, and also build relationships with the good people around us.