National Volunteer Month

National Volunteer Month is an important time to acknowledge the beneficial contributions of volunteers, many of whom are shaping the future of our school and society.

This month, we are not only supporting and promoting frequent volunteers but also supporting new volunteers who are just joining in!

Volunteering means spending your time helping others out. It is a great way to give back to others, meet new people and make connections, and gain experiences, skills, and hours that can go towards future goals.

Helping out, whether it is in your school, at a local business, events, or whatever the case may be, positively affects your community, shows that you’re an active member, and allows you to build relationships along with connections.

It also allows you to gain volunteer hours which can go towards multiple causes.

This includes being put towards our schools FBLA chapter, hours for National Honors Society, and even college and job applications.

Cleaning up trash on roadsides for Earth Day, holding a fundraiser for your local homeless shelter, etc., shows your future peers, employers, and college admissions officers that you are a leader and can handle responsibilities while also being charitable and caring towards those around you. 

Volunteering your time also has personal benefits. It allows you to learn more not only about the place you live in but about the different people, situations, cultures, religions, events, and alike that live and take place in your community.

Many who volunteer meet new people and have to work as a team with them to reach a common goal, whether it's completing a designated task or overall helping out as much as possible. This builds communication, confidence, and the ability to delegate responsibilities and complete assignments in a timely manner, which are all traits employers often look for. 

In JTAHS, volunteer opportunities are often promoted by teachers and emails sent out. But, if you don’t get those emails, want more work, or want to find something different, this is easily doable. Using reliable sources such as the American Red Cross can get you in touch with volunteer opportunities. Other ways to find volunteer jobs is frequently keeping up with your community’s newsletters, keeping an ear out for word of events, and even visit Volunteer Centres where they will look for circumstances that suit what you want to do best.

Finding situations you can help in and enjoy isn’t as hard as it sounds as long as you search for them!

Volunteering is not only an opportunity for you to help out your community, but also grow as a person yourself. Even just spending a few hours a week or month can be good for everyone. Every minute counts when it comes to helping people.

There are many ways for people to volunteer and even if you are too busy to go and help somewhere in person, there are always ways to volunteer remotely or in places you frequently visit anyway!

So, if you’re interested in gaining valuable skills and experiences, giving back to your community, and making a difference, take advantage of National Volunteer Month and volunteer!

Lena Quezada, School News Writer