National Volunteer Week: How Volunteer Opportunities Can Build Empathy And Strengthen Community
For some, the state of the world can leave a sense of hopelessness behind. With political factions becoming more insular, social media creating social bubbles and stoking resentment, and COVID-19 shedding light on individual social isolation, individuals may lose connection with their communities. However, in the words of Fred Rogers, you may consider the following: “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”
National Volunteer Week offers a unique opportunity to recognize and celebrate the nation’s helpers and may motivate you to become one yourself. By highlighting and promoting volunteerism, individuals can strengthen their sense of empathy and build a greater community with others.
The origins of National Volunteer Week
National Volunteer Week was established in 1974 by President Richard Nixon through executive order. In the years since this order, U.S. presidents have continued the tradition of recognizing the nation’s volunteers by highlighting a variety of projects and events throughout the third week of April.
National Volunteer Week is organized and promoted by the Points of Light Foundation and Volunteer Canada, two nonprofit organizations that educate the public about volunteerism, encourage participation, and strive to increase the quality and diversity of volunteer efforts.
The compartmentalization of community
Volunteer work can have powerful impacts in 2025 and beyond as the United States experiences significant social change. Technology, changing morals, and a worldwide pandemic have shifted many Americans’ sense of community, and extremism is on the rise.
Us vs. them
In the Bible, one of the disciples asked Jesus, “Who is our neighbor?” wanting to know who people should focus support efforts on. Social psychologists believe that human beings evolved to exist in group dynamics, with safe in-groups where they could escape the fear and unknown dangers of the outside world. Society has taken this compartmentalization to different levels. Depending on the culture, time, and propensity toward seeing the world as in-group vs out-group, people may wonder, “Who is my neighbor?” “Who am I expected to have empathy for or to care for?” However, instead of seeing humans as small social groups, some experts recommend connecting over shared humanity and treating every human as valuable.
Social media bubbles
The advent of social media created a different angle to the problem of in-group and out-group. Algorithms and highly compartmentalized social spaces allowed people to coalesce toward people who thought exactly like them and reinforce their own ideas. As people began socializing more online, it became easier to reject the ideas of others and to lash out at people one disagrees with. Without being able to see someone, there is no body language or tone of voice to clue one in on someone’s intentions.
The impacts of COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic fanned the flames of fractured communities as people took to their homes for safety. Research has shown that this lockdown took an enormous toll on mental health, especially in younger people with brains that were still developing. The effects of social isolation exacerbated the already widening rift in the concept of community.
How volunteer work and volunteer opportunities can build community
Volunteer service takes people out of their own minds and helps them become a part of a bigger cause. Local communities can’t function without volunteers. When a person decides to volunteer, they are reaching a hand out to others in a way that creates social ties that would not otherwise have been forged. They bond with others with a similar mission and may begin to notice and interact with others they may never have known. Connecting with people from various backgrounds can increase empathy and humanize other groups against whom one may have previously held prejudice.
Benefits of volunteer work on mental health
Volunteering can also be beneficial for mental health. Studies have consistently shown that engaging in volunteer work can:
- Improve psychological well-being
- Offer a greater sense of purpose
- Reduce depressive symptoms
- Improve general health
- Create a sense of connectedness with others
- Increase life satisfaction
- Offer a sense of pride and empowerment
Volunteer work is self-care
Social connection can be a key protective factor for mental health and may reduce the risk of several mental health conditions. Volunteer work offers a sense of purpose and improved self-esteem and helps individuals forge and maintain social connections with others.
Volunteers and volunteer opportunities build empathy
When you spend time working with others and helping different communities through the many forms of volunteering, you can become more understanding of other’s thoughts, motivations, and ideas. Volunteering is a prosocial behavior that forms, maintains, and expands empathy.
How you can celebrate National Volunteer Week
Celebrating National Volunteer Week means recognizing the volunteers who make so many social programs possible. Nonprofit organizations can use this time to launch new volunteer projects, educate the public on volunteerism, and offer their own volunteers personal appreciation. As a nonprofit, you can plan an event to celebrate your volunteers, thank them personally, or plan a whole week of appreciation. April has been expanded into Global Volunteer Month, and special events scheduled in the United States and worldwide can highlight and boost volunteerism. You can find more information through PointsOfLight.org.
Helping reduce burnout in volunteers
Volunteer burnout is a real problem, and by recognizing the hard work of volunteers, you may help mitigate some of the harm. Even if you are not part of a formal organization, you can:
- Create a social media post or campaign highlighting some of the volunteers in your area
- Choose a charity organization that has value to you, and share its mission with your own social group
- Celebrate someone you know who volunteers their time by taking them out to lunch or recognize them in any way you know they’d value
- Become a volunteer yourself
How to find volunteer opportunities in April for National Volunteer Week
One way to celebrate volunteer work is to become a volunteer yourself. More hands are always needed to share the work, and there may be more work than the existing volunteers can handle. A recent Census Bureau report found that the United States has been seeing an all-time low in volunteer participation since beginning to track this information in the early 2000s.
You can start by talking to people in your friend groups to find out about volunteer opportunities near you. Do any of them volunteer for charities or nonprofit organizations? Find out more about their missions and how you may be able to help. Some people can also contact their faith community to explore volunteer opportunities. Finally, to support National Volunteer Week, you can visit Points of Light Engage, the most prominent digital hub of online and in-person volunteer opportunities, and choose from thousands of volunteer opportunities worldwide.
Calling all volunteers
In a time of increased social isolation, fractured community, and internet trolling, you can make a difference by volunteering your time and effort to a cause that’s important to you. Volunteering offers powerful benefits, increasing social interaction, providing shared purpose, and serving as an antidote to loneliness, one of the most pervasive problems in modern society.
If you are interested in how social connection and community building can improve your mental health and well-being, a licensed therapist can be an effective facilitator. Therapy can offer tools and strategies that help you take actionable steps toward increasing self-awareness, self-esteem, purpose, and empathy.
Online therapy can be a convenient option if time is a factor against seeking in-person support. Research has found that online therapy is as effective as in-person therapy, allowing you to attend sessions from the comfort of your home and on your own schedule. An online platform like BetterHelp allows you to match with a therapist by filling out an online questionnaire, and you can switch therapists for any reason.
Takeaway
Focusing on bad news can be mentally and emotionally fatiguing. With a news cycle that seeks engagement every minute of the day, bad news often seems unavoidable. However, you may benefit your mental health and the lives of those in your community by taking action. Be the helper others look for and be the neighbor that others seek. Every human is a neighbor to other humans, and it is possible to be a good neighbor by getting to know as many people as possible and making positive changes in the lives of others. For mental health support this month and year-round, consider seeking guidance from a therapist online or in your area.
How many hours a week should I volunteer?
Some research suggests that volunteering for around two hours each week leads to greater happiness and life satisfaction. Other studies report that the more you volunteer, the higher the increase in life satisfaction. Any volunteer experience that fits into your schedule may have benefits for both your community and yourself.
How can you make volunteers feel appreciated?
Personalized thank you notes and recognition events where volunteers can tell stories, share resources, and encourage others to join are two ways to recognize volunteers and express your appreciation for their contributions. Having a celebration that involves a discussion of volunteers’ impacts can be beneficial as well.
What are the cons of volunteering?
Sometimes, volunteering can take an emotional toll on participants. However, volunteering tends to be a positive experience for young adults and people of all ages.
What discourages people from volunteering?
One of the most common reasons people don’t participate in volunteer work is a lack of free time. A lack of flexibility in volunteer requirements can also prevent people from volunteering.
Why do Americans volunteer so much?
Americans may get involved in volunteer work because they want to help others and the community as a whole. Volunteer work can also provide a sense of community. According to President George H.W. Bush, “Any definition of a successful life includes service to others.”
In his inaugural address, President Bush aimed to inspire Americans to volunteer, describing “a thousand points of light, of all the community organizations that are spread like stars throughout the Nation.” Volunteers have made a difference in the United States for decades, perhaps most notably by volunteering on the home front during World War II.
Today, volunteers can win awards (specifically the Daily Point of Light Award) by demonstrating the transformative power of service. In addition, National Volunteer Week occurs each year in April and has grown exponentially since its inception in 1974.
What is the psychology behind volunteering?
Many people who volunteer do so because of their values and concerns about their community. Some volunteer because it boosts their self-esteem and helps them gain a better understanding of others’ lives. Finally, some participate in volunteer work for personal or career development.
What happens to your brain when you volunteer?
Volunteering often leads to a release of dopamine and other feel-good neurotransmitters. This can reduce stress and increase positive feelings.
How does volunteering help mental health?
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, volunteering can give people a sense of purpose. It can also reduce stress levels, increase happiness, and enhance confidence.
How many people feel better after volunteering?
According to one survey, 93% of participants experienced an improved mood after volunteering. In addition, 88% reported higher levels of self-esteem, and 79% reported lower levels of stress.
What is the most challenging part of volunteering?
Some volunteers struggle with the belief that they aren’t doing enough. Others may experience conflict with other volunteers and organizers.
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