Donna Lea Jones Discusses the Intrinsic Value of Volunteering in Your Community
Volunteering is one of the most rewarding ways that a person can spend their time. Communities around the world depend on volunteerism, which makes it a vital part of our society. Most people would agree that volunteering is about giving back to your community. It is about uniting with others and working towards a common goal that will ultimately leave your neighborhood or town a better place than it was before.
Donna Lea Jones is a pharmaceutical sales professional based in Orlando, Florida. She is extremely active in her community and loves volunteering at her local church. She has been a devoted volunteer for many years and during this time, has learned just how valuable volunteering is. From combating loneliness to boosting self-esteem, continue reading for Donna Lea Jones’ discussion on the intrinsic value and multitude of benefits that come from volunteering in your community.
Volunteering Boosts Self-Esteem
Donna Lea Jones asserts that volunteering boosts self-confidence. Engaging in volunteer work provides you with a sense of accomplishment and meaning. Not only that, but often the tasks you engage in as a volunteer are extremely rewarding, as you’re working to improve the lives of the people who live in your community. Ultimately, the better you feel about yourself and the work you’re doing, the more likely you are to carry yourself with confidence. This boost in self-esteem can spill over into other areas of your life and generally leave you feeling happier.
Volunteering Pushes You Out of Your Comfort Zone
Just because you’re no longer a child, doesn’t mean you stop learning. In fact, Donna Lea Jones asserts that gaining new experiences is one of the best benefits of volunteering. Volunteering allows you to challenge yourself, which in turn, might enable you to acquire some new skills or knowledge, as well as learn something new about who you are as a person. You might discover you have a hidden talent or are fascinated by a topic you’d never considered before. Not only can this lead to personal fulfillment, but you may end up picking up a skill or two that can help you in your professional career. Once again, volunteering has benefits well beyond the few hours a week that you choose to volunteer.
Volunteering Combats Loneliness
Whether you recently moved to a new city or ended a long-term relationship, volunteering is an excellent way to feel less lonely. Over 20% of people living in the United States and the United Kingdom have admitted to feeling lonely, and one in ten adults have reported that they do not have any close friends. While these two statistics might seem disheartening, there is a way of fighting this sense of loneliness – volunteer work!
According to Donna Lea Jones, volunteering is an excellent way of reversing the social isolation or loneliness you’re experiencing, as it allows you to connect with new people and build friendships. In line with this, socializing with others is crucial when it comes to boosting your mood and even fighting symptoms of depression. Volunteering has the added benefit of facilitating socialization, as volunteers meet in person and work together regularly.
Volunteering Makes A Difference
Volunteers can make or break a community, and this feeling of purpose and importance is extremely valuable to people. Donna Lea Jones claims that donating to a local charity is a great first step, but volunteering your time is what will make a significant difference. Communities, organizations, and movements depend on volunteers to stay afloat. Thus, by volunteering, you help keep things running and raise awareness about these groups and their causes.
Volunteering Allows You to Have Fun
Everyone deserves to have fun, but sometimes “fun” activities fade into the background and the stress of day to day life gets in the way. Donna Lea Jones believes that people need to prioritize fun. It might seem frivolous but engaging in activities you enjoy is the key to a happy and healthy life. For most people, volunteering is a way to incorporate some fun into their lives.
Either you choose to volunteer alongside friends and family members you enjoy spending time with, or you volunteer your time to a cause or organization that you are passionate about. Unfortunately, it’s not possible for everyone to love what they do professionally, but when it comes to volunteering, this should absolutely be the goal. They key is to consider what you love and what you wish you had more time to do. Then do some research into the organizations that exist in your town, start sending some emails, and go from there!
