April is National Volunteer Month, and although the month is coming to an end, your volunteering shouldn’t stop here! Many of the organizations we rely on every day, including a majority of fire departments, police forces, and nonprofits wouldn’t be able to run without their generous volunteers. Studies have shown that just two to three volunteer hours per week will result in the most benefits for you and the organization of your choice. Volunteering can be a fun, rewarding hobby that brings positivity and fulfilment to all aspects of your life.
5 Reasons to Volunteer
- Volunteering makes you feel good – If you’ve ever donated your time or resources to a cause, you’ve probably experienced some type of joy. Volunteering makes you happy! When you are freely giving to others, you attain a sense of accomplishment, which contributes to the positive effects that volunteering has on your mood.
- Volunteering gives purpose – Volunteering is a fun way to explore your interests and passions. Contributing to organizations you find meaningful and interesting is a relaxing and energizing escape from your day-to-day routine. Volunteering also provides you with a renewed sense of creativity and motivation that carries over into your personal and professional life.
- Volunteering combats stress – Studies on the “happiness effect” of volunteering show that when you help others, your body releases dopamine in the brain which helps boots overall moral and reduce stress. Volunteers also experience lower levels of depression.
- Volunteering teaches new skills – Volunteering enables you to find what you’re passionate about and explore new hobbies. If you work at a desk job and long for more outdoor time, you can find that in a volunteering opportunity. If you have a passion for a sport or activity that you’ve never done before, take a leap and look for ways to give back while working on personal development!
- Volunteering expands your connections – Volunteering brings you closer to those around you – in your neighborhood, city, or state. When people come together for a collective reason there are strong bonds formed, and if you volunteer regularly, you can maintain those new connections for years to come. The relationships you can cultivate while volunteering are endless.
Many CBT employees choose to spend their time volunteering with a wide range of organizations in the tri-state area. Here’s what CBT employees had to say on why they choose to give back go our community:
“My family and I feel the importance of volunteering is to give back. We have been blessed with so many things in our lives, that we feel it is important to give of our time. You can be a blessing to others by assisting on a project, being someone’s mentor, sharing your experiences, or giving a hand to help someone in need. We feel fortunate that God has blessed us so much that we want to be able to help others achieve their hopes and dreams.” – Tom Budde
“I am extremely passionate about animals and enjoy spending my time helping care for them and spreading conservation messages.” – Heather Harris
“My son moved away for college and I found myself with extra time on my hands so I looked at a number of worthwhile organizations to spend my free time volunteering 
at. After the first night of volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House I loved it, I have now volunteered there for over three years. It is nice to know that the organization I am working with truly helps people and appreciates the time you are donating.” – Mark Dorsey
“I choose to volunteer because it gives me a real sense of purpose and satisfaction, much like getting up and going to work each day. When I have the opportunity to give back, I always feel I am spending my time wisely by helping someone else, contributing towards a worthwhile cause, and meeting new friends.” – Ed Lottman 
“I have an avid love for animals, but I am not able to work with them during the day at my job. I choose to spend some of my spare time volunteering to help fill my need to care for animals at local humane societies.” – Krichelle Miller 
“I have been blessed with great healthy kids! Volunteering is my way of giving back to help those who aren’t as fortunate. When you see kids battling for their life, it really puts your own life into perspective. My bad day is nothing like what these kids and their parents are going through.” – Dan Erb 
“Volunteering offers a chance to give back to the community and make a difference with people. I think the more we give, the better we feel.” – Susie Shoskin
Are you looking for ways to give back to our community? Here are some ways you can get involved in Cincinnati and Dayton!
