Page 50 - LIN APRIL All Pages

The Benefits of Volunteering

by Antonello Castaldi, Volunteering can help you find a job: If you are looking for a
Volunteer Program Manager, Healthcare Network job, volunteering can help you network, demonstrate your skills,
ou might not remember how you spent help you gain knowledge and unlock opportunities.
some of your time last week. But if Volunteering can make you happy: Something happens in
Y you have ever donated or invested time our brain when we help others, we feel a sense of fulfillment and
volunteering or supporting a cause dear to you, accomplishment. Research tells us that volunteering, simply put,
you probably remember that experience well, makes us happy and connected to our community.
especially how helping others made you feel. Volunteering can teach you about an industry: If you are
There is a pretty good chance you still feel proud curious about an industry, and you want to learn more about it, you
of how you spent that time. can jump right into action and gain experience by volunteering in
Why? Studies have shown helping others makes us feel fulfilled that field. This is an easy way to see if a career in that industry is
and happy. And in the process, enables us to learn new skills, gain right for you.
valuable experience and cultivate strong professional and personal Volunteering is fun: Yes, volunteering can be really fun! Find
relationships. Here are a few of the benefits: a team where you fit in, enjoy the interactions with your team as
Volunteering is good for physical and mental health: you plan and organize activities together, build camaraderie and
Volunteering keeps your body active; this is especially important eventually, the natural bonding that makes every volunteering
for retired individuals. Research shows that seniors who volunteer experience special will kick in.
report better physical health and lower levels of depression and Volunteering creates a more resilient community: If you care
anxiety when compared to seniors who do not volunteer. about the community where you live (think of your neighborhood,
Volunteering helps you make connections: By volunteering, county, state, nation or the world), ask yourself for a minute, what
you can meet like-minded people, and most likely they will be if each of us shared just a bit of our time and skills to make our
exceptional people, who care about others and value spending their community better? Would we not all reap the benefit from a
time in a meaningful way to serve populations in need. Forming stronger and healthier community?
these connections can result in lifelong friendships. Now, if you are asking yourself how you can get all the benefits
Volunteering can teach you valuable job skills: If you want of volunteering, try it out yourself! With onsite and offsite
to learn or refine some skills, you can easily acquire them by opportunities, Healthcare Network is an excellent place to start
volunteering. Volunteer opportunities are available in a variety of your next volunteering journey. Healthcare Network is a medical
different fields. Many websites such as VolunteerMatch specialize and dental home to approximately 50,000 patients annually.
in matching you with the right volunteer opportunities and allow Primary care services include adult and senior care, obstetrics
you to refine your search so you can look for specific openings that and gynecology, pediatrics and pharmacy as well as dental care
will help you build your resume with the skills you need. and integrated behavioral health for both adults and children. At
Volunteering can help you become a leader: Volunteering Healthcare Network, no one is denied care based on income or
provides an excellent opportunity to grow and hone your insurance status. Apply at healthcareswfl.org/volunteers or send an
leadership skills. For instance, many organizations are looking for email to volunteers@healthcareswfl.org.
committed, mission-focused individuals to serve on their boards About the Author
and committees, while others need help developing programs Antonello Castaldi is the volunteer program manager for Healthcare
or events. Regardless, these experiences will help you build and Network, a nonprofit organization committed to ensuring quality
expand on your leadership skills. healthcare is accessible to everyone in our community.

50 Life in Naples | April 2022