Five Benefits of Volunteering in Your Community

Volunteering allows people to donate their time and talents to people and organizations throughout their communities. Many not-for-profit and charitable organizations lack sufficient funding to pay their staff members a salary.

These organizations could not meet the needs of those they serve without the generosity and support of their volunteers. The week of April 19-25 is National Volunteer Week, and to celebrate it, there are five benefits of volunteering, though this article only scratches the surface.

It builds connections.

If you’re new to an area, volunteering helps you connect with people with similar interests. Together, you and your new friends can participate in fun and worthwhile activities for important community-wide causes.

It boosts your confidence.

Volunteering boosts confidence, raises self-esteem, and helps you develop social skills. If you feel comfortable around others and like participating in community-wide events, you may find donating your time and skills an essential part of your life. 

However, being around large numbers of people may make you uncomfortable if you’re an introvert. Participating in activities with the same group of people consistently allows you to practice and develop your social skills. Volunteering also allows you to meet new people and grow your social network.

It teaches the importance of giving back.

Family volunteering teaches children the importance of giving back while adding value to their lives and the lives of those they serve. It also connects parents with organizations providing child-friendly community activities.

It helps meet the needs of people in your community.

If you are a visually impaired volunteer, you can benefit from volunteering your time and skills to help meet the needs of people and organizations in your community. Even during this time of social distancing, you can still help your community from the comfort of your home.

With today’s technological enhancements, many visually impaired people volunteer over the phone or online. For example, some organizations may need content for emails, blogs, websites, and other materials. Other organizations need people to make or answer phone calls from a remote location.

Make sure your organization has a staff person available to answer any questions. Even though you’re volunteering at home, you can still connect through social media and other online platforms.

It helps your career.

Volunteering provides opportunities to advance your career or start a new one. You can learn new skills and enhance those you already have, connect with organizations that offer internships, and meet potential employers.

In honor of National Volunteer Week (April 19-25, 2020), Outlook Enrichment would like to thank all our volunteers for their service to our community. Although no events are happening now, preparations are underway for future events. Sign up for one of our volunteer opportunities here.

The Power and Benefits of Mentorship

Mentoring relationships are celebrated in January, which is National Mentoring Month. What exactly does mentoring mean? And how is a mentor/mentee relationship beneficial? Mentoring is defined as training and advising. Most people are familiar with this concept, but not many realize the potential power of mentoring or being mentored.

“Effective mentoring takes effort, and creating successful mentoring relationships requires specific skills, sensibilities and structure from both the mentor and mentee,” Mary Abbajay said in a Forbes article, Mentoring Matters: Three Essential Elements of Success. Committing to the relationship and establishing a structure benefits both parties. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), research supports mentor/mentee relationships, showing that mentees excel in personal and professional endeavors when being mentored.

The Importance of Mentoring Relationships

Mentoring relationships can help with various skill sets besides employment or school. It’s common to make resolutions at the beginning of the year; this includes learning new skills or knowledge for many. Finding a mentor to guide you along the way has the potential to provide a teacher and a support system.

Some goals you might set for 2020:

Searching for a mentor also connects you to people with similar experiences. This can be crucial for disabled people. Finding those who have and do navigate similar circumstances positively impacts your mindset and ability to act. Exposure to other people with visual impairments, especially if they can act as mentors and help you navigate the world as a person with visual impairments, can dramatically impact your daily life and the goals you set forth.

According to Mentor: The National Mentoring Partnership, people exposed to positive role models often excel. Demographics given low expectations see an increase in personal and professional goals once paired with a mentor. Often, they are more likely to:

Getting Involved Through Mentorship Programs

Mentoring happens both formally and informally. You can find a mentor who lives next door or seek mentoring programs. Some potential formal local programs to consider for both mentors and mentees are:

Find informal mentoring opportunities by joining a local club or group that interests you or signing up for a yoga class or book club. If you seek out other people with visual impairments, finding a local chapter or state affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind and the American Council of the Blind are great ways to connect. Online avenues to seeking mentoring opportunities include Buy Sell Trade groups on Facebook and Nextdoor. Wherever and with whomever you find mentoring partnerships, here are a few guidelines to keep in mind:

Like any relationship, a mentoring partnership takes time to develop. Trust must be built. If you take the time to nourish a mentoring relationship, it will bring exponential benefits. Figure out how mentoring can enhance your life in 2020.