Blanchard says those who volunteer, almost to a person, say they
learn more than they give. “It’s the sense of accomplishment and
contributing to something that’s larger than any one person can
do,” she said. And service can have other benefits. “Sometimes
when you work hard, it’s hard to meet people outside where you
work. Being involved in service exposes you to a wide variety of
people and networks. When people work together toward a common goal, that can lead to friendships and maybe even something
more. As Robert Putnam, who wrote Bowling Alone, has said,
“Connections are also good for your health.”
West, Flowe, Patel and Feltes all said their volunteer experiences
have brought them friendships, role models and contacts they
wouldn’t have made otherwise. Service, Patel said, “gives you a
broader scope of what all is out there.”
Feltes finds that exposure to the needs of the community is
humbling, and, he said, “I had a lot of fun [volunteering] — I think
that counts.”
For West, service gave her the opportunity to do something she
wouldn’t ordinarily have been able to — she was a case manager even
though she didn’t have the educational background for the job. “It’s
empowering to work with people who let you learn new things
and try to make a difference,” she said. “Just like your undergraduate education, it opens your eyes to a wide range of possibilities.”
— Kathleen Kearns
By the Numbers
Volunteers 16 and older in the U.S. in 2006
61 million
Hours they dedicated to volunteer service in 2006
8 billion
Americans 16 and older who volunteered in 2006 27%
North Carolinians 16 and older who did so 29%
U.S. college students who volunteered in 2006 30%
N.C. college students who did so 33%
U.S. 25- to 34-year-olds who volunteered in 2006 25%
Types of organizations where Americans volunteered in 2006:
Religious 35%
Education or youth service 27%
Social or community service 13%
Hospital or other health 8%
Civic, political, professional or international 7%
Sport, hobby, cultural or arts 4%
Other 7%
Source: “Volunteering in America: 2007 State Trends and Rankings,”
Corporation for National and Community Service
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