Get Involved in Your Community!

As we enter into the month of April we start to slowly come out of our winter hibernation. We dream of warmer weather and signs of life start to return back to the area – birds chirping, flowers blooming, and the trees beginning to bring back that lovely green we have missed for months.  

We start to have that feeling that Spring has Sprung! And with that feeling, we start to want to go out and be more active and social. This is a great time to start thinking about volunteering! Did you know that April is National Volunteer Month?? April became National Volunteer Month as part of President George H. W. Bush’s 1000 Points of Light campaign in 1991.

You may be thinking of how you can start to give back to the community or how you can find opportunities to volunteer. You may be asking yourself, why should I volunteer? Where should I start to look? What do I get out of volunteering?

When you look at the reasons why volunteering is important, it’s not only about the impacts we can make in the lives of those in need but the role it can play in making us more tolerant individuals and giving towards the global community. While it’s true that the more you volunteer, the more benefits you’ll experience, volunteering doesn’t have to involve a long-term commitment or take a huge amount of time out of your busy day. Giving in even simple ways can help those in need and improve your health and happiness.

The Pittsburgh community overflows with opportunities to volunteer. If you’re not involved but would like to start, take a few minutes and think about what you have to offer.

Here are five great reasons why you should be volunteering:

1. It’s good for your health – Studies have found that when you stop thinking about your own problems and focus on someone other than yourself, your stress level starts to decrease, your immune system gets stronger, and your overall sense of life satisfaction increases.
2. Career Booster – Volunteering helps you create a positive impression, makes you more innovative, creative and gives you a range of useful skills.
3. Learn a new skill – You are faced with problems on a daily basis, you have to deal with a mix of personalities and all while adjusting to life outside of your comfort zone. This all adds up and helps to improve your teamwork, leadership, problem-solving and people skills.
4. Make an Impact – It gives you the opportunity to be a part of something bigger than yourself and use your civic responsibility to empower people all across the globe.
5. Give Back to a Cause you Believe In – Your reason for volunteering should begin where your passions lie. Let your love for animals, teaching or healthcare create positive change in the world.

Where do I start looking??

• A great place to start looking is on Volunteer Match or Pittsburgh Cares.
• Just to name a few of the great places you can sign up to volunteer…
  • Literacy Pittsburgh
  • Human-Animal Rescue
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pittsburgh
  • Center for Victims
  • 412 Food Rescue
  • CCChampions

Get Involved events coming up in April, and May:

• April 14th PYP Get Involved! Animal Friends
• May 11th – – Camp For a Day through Family Guidance
• May 18th Camp Clean Up at Family Guidance Youth Camp – Contact Jen Engel jengel@familyguidance.net
• April 13th and 14th – – Humane Animal Rescue’s Shelter Sleepover presented by Therapy Pet
• PYP Board Member (Applications opened in March)
• PYP Committee Chair (Applications set to open later this year)

And keep an eye on the PYP Events page for the PYP Volunteer Fair coming up September 19th of this year, at the Energy Innovation Center.

Authored by Jacquie Foradori 2019 Board Advisor Community Outreach Committee
Jacquie.foradori@pyp.orgfiled under: Resources

Tags: community, community service, events, new members, pittsburgh, pittsburgh young professionals, Volunteer