Why Volunteer?

Volunteering could serve as a path to employment, not only for teens and young adults, but for those reentering the workforce after time away.

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) states that volunteers have a 27% higher chance of finding a job after being out of work compared to those not volunteering. If a person does not have a high school diploma, volunteering could increase their chance of finding a job by 51%!

The CNCS reports that volunteers living in rural areas have a 55% higher chance of finding employment that nonvolunteers. While the research didn't investigate why this may be true, there could be a variety of reasons. Volunteers get experience and skill-building within the organization. When you volunteer, you build connections with others who can vouch for your reputation and work ethic. In depth volunteering can and should be placed on a resume with the supervisor or volunteer coordinator listed as a reference. In a recent study by Worker et al (2020), California 4-H volunteers reported personal benefits of volunteering in five themes: Skill Development, Well-being, Sense of Gratification from Working with Youth and Adults, Social Development, and Deepening their Relationship with 4-H. This study describes the positive benefit volunteering with this organization had on the volunteers themselves.

Benefits to the Community Research suggests that communities with strong volunteerism rates are stronger and more resilient overall. Community members who volunteer act as bridges bringing people together that may not have otherwise been connected. Local economy experiences positive effects when individuals receive professional development opportunities as part of their volunteer role. A 2012 report from the National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC) explained that an increased number and variety of nonprofit organizations in a community, along with positive community relationships, can help it to withstand unemployment in a recession.

The NCoC states “for individuals who held jobs in 2008, the odds of becoming unemployed were cut in half if they lived in a community with many nonprofit organizations rather than one with a few nonprofits, even if the two communities were otherwise similar.”

What Next?

Continue to volunteer! Help others see the benefits of volunteering within 4-H and other organizations. We appreciate what you bring to the organization, and we hope you see the benefit too! Merced County 4-H seek volunteers with a passion who want to share with youth and give back to their community. Russell Hill, 209-385-7418 rdhill@ucanr.edu https://www.facebook. com/MercedCounty4H/ https:// merced4h.ucanr.edu/