As a volunteer, you will reap even more rewards than you contribute | Opinion

If you head to the grocery store, you will notice some of your favorite items have been missing for months. The cream cheese, toilet paper, aluminum, baby formula, etc. Shortages have become a conversation point for everyone.

However, there is another scarcity plaguing our community — volunteers.

Despite many variables, individual and corporate donations are back up at pre-pandemic levels. Yet a recent Philanthropy News Digest report noted volunteer rates down by 56%. That’s more than half.

I see the deficit firsthand, as a board member for the Friendship Circle, one of South Florida’s leading nonprofits focused on providing enriching programming for children and young adults with special needs.

Our “new normal” has forever changed the way we view community engagement. Instead of companies providing paid volunteer workdays, they are matching donations. Individuals and families are writing checks rather than turning a volunteer opportunity into a family outing.

This month is National Volunteer Month, and there is no better time to shift the momentum and shine a light on the act of volunteerism, in which people are willing to undertake a service.

Volunteering is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor. It could be your full-time job or spending just a few hours a month with an organization. No volunteer commitment is better than another.

One of the best parts about volunteering is that it’s free or requires little cost. It is inclusive, regardless of age, race, background, education, or financial status.

Before my son was diagnosed with Fragile X Syndrome, a genetic condition that causes intellectual disabilities, plus behavioral and learning challenges, I could not find an organization that moved me like Friendship Circle. I needed the personal connection to foster my volunteering spirit.

My favorite saying about volunteering is that, “You get what you put in.” I get more satisfaction in return than the time I devote. It is rewarding to know you are of service to others through this commitment.

Volunteering among adults provides significant physical and mental benefits, compared to non-volunteers. Additionally, volunteering leads to lower rates of depression and anxiety, especially for those 65 and older.

During the pandemic, so many of us felt lonely and secluded, yearning for physical connections, life’s most cherished celebrations and new adventures. I can imagine how children and young adults with disabilities felt during this unparalleled time. While donations move the needle for organizations and nonprofits, they do not fix the feelings of loneliness that only a human connection can cure.

Sometimes, getting started is the hardest part of volunteering — finding an organization, charity, company, annual event, community or cause that resonates with you. It may take a few tries, which is OK. Your employer, university alumni organization and personal circle serve as great resources for inspiration and direction.

The next step is to put yourself out there, which can be difficult, too. But pick up the phone to call a nonprofit, or send a simple email asking where the needs lie. Reach out to a member of their board of directors and inquire about taking the first step.

Organizations value significant contributions. There is no doubt that financial donations make an impact. But human interaction, heart and passion through volunteerism is unmatched.

As a mother of a child with disabilities, I challenge you to donate your time in the next year. There are children, like my son, who need your friendship, physical connection and care. Some things in life are truly and simply free.

Michele Kaplan is a South Florida resident and board member of Friendship Circle.

This story was originally published April 25, 2022 at 7:46 PM.