Aristotle said, “The essence of life is to serve others and to do good.” According to a 2018 survey by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, one-third of Americans age 16 and older volunteered at least once in the last year. What drives people to freely give their time and talent? What role does volunteerism play in our pursuit of meaning and purpose?
In this episode of the Make Meaning podcast, Lynne Golodner speaks with former Your People team member Kirstin Karoub explore the power of volunteering to instill meaning, reveal purpose, create connections and build mutually beneficial relationships, all while making a difference. Tune in here:
Volunteering benefits not only those being served, but those serving, as well. Volunteers live longer, have higher self-esteem, lower stress levels, and are 27% more likely to find a job. Tell us about your experiences with volunteering – how has it impacted your life?
In this episode, Lynne and Kirstin discuss:
- The benefits of volunteering
- Living impactful lives
- Reasons people volunteer
- 1.8 million nonprofits in the U.S. and only 55% use volunteers – why?
- Gaining marketable skills as a volunteer
- The role of volunteering in finding purpose
- Building connections and strengthening community
- How to get started in volunteering
Links and Resources
- Volunteering Statistics
- Psychology Today: “Why Do Volunteers Live Longer?”
- Mark Granovetter: Strength of Weak Ties
- Justice For Our Neighbors immigration legal services
- Blessings in a Backpack
- Volunteermatch.org
- Serv.gov
- Allforgood.org
- Idealist.org
Coming up next week on the Make Meaning Podcast:
Lynne interviews Jason Kadlitz, owner of the Berkley Chop Shop, who left an engineer career to create a community hub that also offers vintage precision haircutting. Tune in to hear what inspired Jason to forge a new path, what it takes to create a welcoming space, and how he encourages his children to be who they’re meant to be, the way his own father supported him.
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