It’s a New Year and many people are making resolutions to be healthier and happier in 2024. Volunteering may be the perfect New Year’s resolution because volunteerism provides countless benefits to the local community, as well as improving the health and happiness of people who commit to sharing their time and talents with others. Picking a cause and getting out to volunteer turns out to be the one single, achievable, sustainable and widely beneficial resolution for the New Year that checks off so many of the top resolutions on everyone’s lists.
In fact, research suggests that when we spread kindness, we are boosting our own mental health and well-being too. According to the Journal of Happiness Studies, people who volunteered in the past year were more satisfied with their lives and rated their overall health better than those who didn't volunteer. Volunteering keeps you active and reduces stress, helps you meet new people and sharpens your social skills, all while giving you a sense of purpose.
Volunteers help create and support healthy communities. A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Volunteer is a trained community member who is appointed by a judge to advocate for the best interest of abused and neglected children in the foster care system. If a child has a CASA Volunteer, they are more likely to receive needed services, such as health care, therapy, and education. These children are more likely to achieve safe, nurturing, and permanent homes, rather than languish in long-term care.
Make volunteering a reality this year. Visit https://www.casalancleb.org/ to find out all the ways you can make a difference for the most vulnerable members of the community. Our next virtual information session will be held on Thursday, January 25. The start of a New Year is the perfect time to commit to volunteering. Join CASA of Lancaster and Lebanon Counties and help provide necessary services and advocacy for children by making sure a qualified, compassionate adult will fight for and protect a child’s right to be safe, to be treated with dignity and respect, and to learn and grow in the security of a loving family.
