Volunteers provide a valuable service to the community and to the world. They fill gaps by providing funds, labor and knowledge to organizations and individuals in need.
April is National Volunteer Appreciation Month, a time to recognize the contributions of those who donate their time and talents to bettering our communities. While volunteering provides a great benefit to the organizations who need volunteers, giving your time can also benefit you personally. Here are several ways volunteering benefits individuals:
Increase confidence.
Volunteering provides the opportunity to pick up new skills or to share skills you have with those who want to learn. It also provides a quick sense of accomplishment when you complete a task that brings joy to someone else.
Lower depression.
Focusing on someone else’s needs helps the brain to regulate the stress in your own life. As you serve others, you’re more likely to forget your own problems.
Helping others has been shown in studies to improve your own level of happiness. The London School of Economics studied a large group of adults and found that those who volunteer monthly were 7 percent happier than those who did not and those who volunteered two to four times a month were 16 percent happier.
Volunteering also helps build community and increase your sense of belonging as you work toward a cause you care about.
It’s important for humans to have opportunities to socialize with others and volunteering provides a natural, comfortable way to get to know new people and create caring relationships.
Improve networking.
You never know who you might run into when you get out and serve! You may build connections with people who can be a part of your life personally and professionally. When you prove your work ethic in a low-stress environment like a volunteer role, people are bound to take notice.
The good news about volunteering is there are so many ways to give back! Even spending a few hours each month can make a difference.
At Prestige Cleaners, we do our best to give back to the community through donation drives and partnering with local non-profits. We appreciate all of our loyal customers who support these efforts!
April is also your chance to file taxes in Arizona and donate your charitable tax credits to deserving non-profits. These tax credits allow you to make an important donation to a cause you care about by choosing where your tax dollars go. The best part is taking advantage of these tax credits doesn’t cost you anything! You can claim these tax credits on your 2022 or 2023 Arizona taxes when you file by April 15th. Learn more at https://aztaxcreditfunds.com/.
