with the Des Collines Health Foundation
For some, volunteering is an opportunity to give back to the community or make a difference in the lives of the people around them. For others, it’s about developing new skills, building on existing knowledge, and growing career opportunities and employment prospects.
Regardless of the motivation, what unites volunteers is that they find volunteering both challenging and rewarding.
Here are 23 reasons to volunteer in 2023:
23: It’s good for you! Reduces stress: Experts report that when you focus on someone other than yourself, it interrupts usual tension-producing patterns.
22: Makes you healthier: Moods and emotions, like optimism, joy, and control over one’s fate, strengthen the immune system.
21: It promotes personal growth and self-esteem
20: It fosters empathy
19: You get a chance to give back! Support community resources you use or that benefit the people you care about.
18: Volunteerism is an investment in your community and the people who live in it.
17: Use your existing skills or knowledge to the benefit of your community.
16: It’s a chance to socialize: Meet people and make new friends.
15: Volunteering combats depression: A key risk factor for depression is social isolation. Volunteering keeps you in regular contact with others and helps you develop a solid support system, which in turn protects you against stress and depression when you’re going through challenging times.
14: Volunteering helps you stay physically active. Volunteering is good for your health at any age, but it’s especially beneficial in older adults. Studies have found that those who volunteer have a lower mortality rate than those who do not, even when considering factors like the health of the participants. Volunteering has also been shown to lessen symptoms of chronic pain or heart disease.
13: Helping others kindles happiness. Studies have found the more people volunteered, the happier they were.
12: Brings fun and fulfillment in your life. Doing volunteer work, you find meaningful and interesting can be a relaxing, energizing escape from your day-to-day routine of work, school, or family commitments.
11: Volunteering provides you with renewed creativity, motivation, and vision that can carry over into your personal and professional life.
10: Home-based volunteering connects you with a team. There are many projects where you can help. Writing and graphic design lends itself to working at home, and in today’s digital age we could also use help with our online presence.
9: It’s a chance to try something new, that may lead to a career change.
8: It saves resources so more money can be spent on local improvements.
7: Gain professional experience and improve employment prospects.
6: You learn a lot! Such as, about the functions and operations of our government and,
gain knowledge of local resources available.
5: It brings people together and unites people from diverse backgrounds to work toward a common goal.
4: Feel valued and part of a team
3: You get to know the local community
2. Contributing to your community is one of the best feelings in the world. There is no job too small or too big, no one too young or too old.
1: You make a difference in the lives of others. Every person counts!
If you are looking to volunteer or would like to know more about how you can help, visit https://fsdc-dchf.ca/the-foundation-staff/.
Sign up today. Bring friends and family with you. Make it a work and team building event.
The Des Collines Health Foundation depends greatly on an ever-growing group of dedicated volunteers to make possible the events and fundraising initiatives such as the Golf Tournament, Craft Fair, Masquerade Party, and the Garden Party. Without them, the tasks that face us could never be accomplished, and the money raised would not meet the needs that exist.
The Sante Boutique at the Wakefield Hospital is staffed entirely by volunteers, which allows the revenue from the shop to be applied to the equipment and program needs of the health region. The Boutique is looking for volunteers who are willing to work a three- or four-hour shift once a month during the times the shop is open.
Anyone interested in volunteering is invited to contact The Des Collines Health Foundation’s operations director, Maureen Fehr at 819-459-1112 ext. 332900. Maureen would be delighted to assist you in finding a volunteer opportunity that matches your personality and interests.
The Foundation salutes and thanks the many dedicated community volunteers who support our efforts.
Our mission is to receive donations from our supporters and raise funds to invest in better health care in the MRC district of des Collines. The Foundation is guided by a volunteer board of directors and operates in in community partnership with the Outaouais Integrated Health and Social Services Centre (CISSO).
The Des Collines Health Foundation greatly appreciates the support of volunteers, individuals, businesses, and organizations who make it possible for us to purchase critical equipment to improve healthcare throughout our communities.
Maureen Fehr, Director of Operations at the Des Collines Health Foundation