Live United by Denise Tipton

I know you’ve heard it all before: Volunteering is a way to give back — it’s a way to help your community. Guess what — it’s true! 

Volunteering has such a positive effect on your community, and it is great for you, too. Giving back to your community is so valuable, and helping others also offers a ton of benefits. It can help you learn more about yourself, it can even lead you to a career path that without volunteering you may not have known existed. It can build your confidence, increase you well-being and connect you to new people.

Volunteering is a lot more than just stuffing envelopes.  You can build houses for the homeless, you can deliver meals to the elderly, you can read stories to children or take a dog for a walk, and you can even travel to help clean up communities after a disaster.  The opportunities are endless and it starts right here in our community.

But once you decide you want to give your time, then what? Here are a few simple steps that will help you find the right volunteer opportunity for you:

1. Know what’s out there and who to contact.

2. Know that you can commit (hours, days, expectations)

3. Understand your expectations (what do you want from your experiences)

4. Love what you do and do what you love (try new things multiple things to find the best fit for you)

I encourage you to reach out to a local organization and give your most precious gift — your time.

If you need help, feel free to contact me at the Community Resource Center at 507-473-2718. We can find the best fit for you and help our community together. It doesn’t take moving mountains to make a difference, it just takes you.

Denise Tipton is the volunteer and outreach coordinator for the Community Resource Center in Albert Lea.