Stockbridge volunteers at Community Clean-Up Day
Imagining the ACTIONS SPEAK Communities ofTHAN Tomorrow LOUDER WORDS Written by 5 Healthy Towns Foundation staff
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ost would agree that the benefits of volunteering are realized by the person giving their time, as well as those that benefit from receiving it. Whether you’re looking to meet new people, learn new skills or hobbies, or you support a specific charitable cause, there are many prosocial benefits to becoming engaged in civic or community strengthening activities.
Giving Back Through Volunteering
also impacted our behaviors. So how does volunteering support healthier communities? When we imagine communities that are connected, optimistic, resilient, and engaged we should consider the types of people, activities or qualities that contribute to those outcomes. And what are prosocial benefits, anyway?
volunteer start to feel like they belong and have purpose in their community, Ok, so we all readily appreciate that they learn to get along people, volunteering bringswith value to our and they have stronger health communities and to mental the individual. Yet, according to studies, only about 1 in 4 and well-being. And of course, those people actively volunteer, and that number childrenhas become active, contributing, dropped gradually since the start of civicallythe engaged in ourwe place century. leaders Generationally, different tomorrow. values on giving back through communities volunteerism, and recent events in our global community have also impacted our Perhapsbehaviors. you’re looking meet new So how todoes volunteering healthier your communities? people support and expand perspectives
Simply put, prosocial behavior is doing and friendship circles. Volunteering Ok, so we all readily appreciate that something for someone else, either to should When provide opportunities for we imagine communities that are volunteering brings value to our benefit, help or care for them, simply connection with whoresilient, share and connected, others optimistic, engaged we should consider communities and to the individual. Yet, because you value the feelings and similar interests to your own. the types of people, activities or qualities that according to studies, only about 1 in experiences of other people. Pretty There are many resources available contribute to those outcomes. And what Most wouldsimple, agree that the benefits of volunteering are realized by the 4 people actively volunteer, and that right? to help are connect withanyway? volunteer prosocialyou benefits, person giving their time, as well as those that benefit from receiving it. number has dropped gradually since opportunities locally. Whether you’re looking to meet new people, learn new skills or hobbies, or Simply put, prosocial behavior is doing the start of the century. Generationally, talkingcause, to your about their you support Imagine a specific charitable there kids are many prosocial benefits to something for someone else, either to in civic or community strengthening activities. we place different values on givingbecoming engaged favorite activities, or asking them about Visit www.onebigconnection.org to benefit, help or care for them, simply back through volunteerism, and recent their interests and where they would learn more. because you value the feelings and experiences of other people. Pretty events in our global community have like to help? Children who are invited to simple, right?
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Imagine talking to your kids about their favorite activities, or asking them