| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2/17/2010 |
Contact: Inger Berg 215-855-3002 i.berg@npuw.org |
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MOBILIZE YOUR AREA OF INFLUENCE TO The North Montco Volunteer Center is a “one stop shop” for those in the community who are looking to get connected with a volunteer opportunity, as well as for those in the community who need help in finding volunteers. Whether you’re an individual looking to serve on a regular basis in a long term capacity, or a family looking for a one day project to do on a weekend, or an area business searching for a team building opportunity, the North Montco Volunteer Center would like to help make that volunteer connection for you. Housed at the North Penn United Way’s office and presently in the pilot phase, the North Montco Volunteer Center is already taking applications from area residents wishing to get involved and to give back to the community. Perhaps the first and biggest benefit people get from volunteering is the satisfaction of incorporating service into their lives and making a difference in their community and country. The intangible benefits alone—such as pride, satisfaction and accomplishment—are worthwhile reasons to serve. In addition, when we share our time and talents, we: • Solve problems • Strengthen communities • Improve lives • Connect to others • Transform our own lives Over the past two decades we have also seen a growing body of research that indicates volunteering provides individual health benefits in addition to social benefits. This research, which is presented by the Corporation for National & Community Service in a report titled “The Health Benefits of Volunteering: A Review of Recent Research” has established a strong relationship between volunteering and health: those who volunteer have lower mortality rates, greater functional ability, and lower rates of depression later in life than those who do not volunteer. Comparisons of the health benefits of volunteering for different age groups have also shown that older volunteers are the most likely to receive greater benefits from volunteering, whether because they are more likely to face higher incidence of illness or because volunteering provides them with physical and social activity and a sense of purpose at a time when their social roles are changing. Some of these findings also indicate that volunteers who devote a “considerable” amount of time to volunteer activities (about 100 hours per year) are most likely to exhibit positive health outcomes. Families and groups can also partake in the sense of belonging. In her article, “Family Volunteering: The Ties That Bind,” Kristen Porritt writes, “Volunteerism is an important ingredient of the glue that binds that family to its community. It allows the family to serve the community and pass on important values to its children, youth, and other adults, and to experience a shared sense of accomplishment – all at the same time.” Family volunteering needn’t be a huge commitment of time, rather a commitment of the heart. Members of the community looking to give back and to contribute are encouraged to look within, explore their areas of interest and skill and to reach out to the North Montco Volunteer Center to hear about current volunteer opportunities in the area. Local non-profit organizations in need of volunteers for on-going and long-term commitments, as well as for volunteers for one day or short-term projects are also encouraged to contact us. Give an hour. Give a Saturday. Give your best. We all have special talents. Things we can do to help. And when we reach out a hand to one, we influence the condition of all. |