How do people learn Volunteering?

While volunteering is a skill best learned by doing, there are many skills people may learn from volunteering. Volunteers can gain experience in a field they are interested in; for example, someone interested in working as a historian could volunteer as a museum docent to decide if they enjoy museum work. Once at the museum, they can build valuable professional ties and develop skills like teamwork, communication, and public speaking that are useful for finding paid employment.^[2] Studies show that volunteers gain new self-confidence and a sense of fulfillment, as well as opportunities to connect with others in the community and better physical and mental health.^[3]

^[2] Western Connecticut State University. (n.d.) Community Engagement. https://www.wcsu.edu/community-engagement.

^[3] Coren, E., Phillips, J., Moore, J., Brownett, T., & Whitfield, L. (2022). An Examination of the Impacts of Volunteering and Community Contribution at a Community Festival Through the Lens of the Five Ways to Wellbeing. International journal of community well-being, 5(1), 137–156. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42413-021-00154-2.

How do people implement Volunteering?

People can volunteer through many different channels, including schools, faith groups, and workplaces, or they can choose to volunteer as an individual by getting involved with their local food bank or homeless shelter, women’s shelter, animal shelter, environmental clean-up group, or any other local institution that looks for volunteer assistance. Some volunteers travel to different parts of the country, or even abroad, to aid people in need. Some organizations, like hospitals or museums, might require their volunteers to undergo specialized training, but many groups simply need another pair of hands.

For what types of circumstances is Volunteering suited?

Volunteering is well suited for developing positive social and emotional behaviors among the volunteers themselves, but depending on the cause the volunteers are working for, volunteers can interrupt aggression and violence between people and groups, and repair the long-term harm that results from aggression and violence. A volunteer at an A volunteer at an organization for racial justice can work to educate others to dismantle racial prejudices, for instance, while another volunteer at a woman’s shelter can help victims of violence recover and empower themselves to rebuild their lives.

Does Volunteering work for preventing or controlling aggression or violence?

Volunteers gain greater mental health from helping others, alleviating symptoms of depression or anxiety. Studies show that volunteers have more social engagement, and that helping others simply feels good.^[4] Better mental health and fulfilling social relationships lead to an improved quality of life and lower instances of aggression or violence.

^[4]Hopper, E. (2020). How Volunteering Can Help Your Mental Health. Greater Good Magazine. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_volunteering_can_help_your_mental_health.

Where else might I go to learn more about Volunteering?

• Peace Through Action – Apply to volunteer at Peace Through Action!
• AmeriCorps – AmeriCorps is the federal agency for volunteering and works to provide volunteering opportunities across the country.
• American Red Cross – Work with the Red Cross to alleviate suffering in the wake of disasters, support members of the armed services and their families, and ensure that Americans have access to safe blood and blood products.
• 9/11 Day – This organization, founded by family members of those who died in the September 11^th terrorist attacks, works to redefine the day by turning it into a day of community service and good deeds.
• Habitat for Humanity – Work with Habitat for Humanity to construct homes and combat systemic barriers preventing low-income and underserved families from finding stable housing.

Information Sheet-Choose-Volunteering (PDF)

Author: Rachel Scott

Have a suggested addition to this information sheet? Send it to inbox@peacethroughaction.org.