(Adapted from UC San Diego’s Community Service: Top 10 Reasons to Volunteer)

10.  It’s good for you.

Taking part in civic engagement is good for your mental and physical health. Civic engagement reduces stress and interrupts usual tension-producing patterns. Another bonus is that it strengthens your immune system by positively impacting your mood.

9.  It saves resources.

By engaging in civic engagement and service work you are providing valuable community services. This translates to more money that can be spent on local improvements.

The estimated value of a volunteer's time in 2013 in the United States was $22.50 per hour (Independent Sector, 2013). 

The estimated value of a volunteer’s time in 2013 in Oregon was $21.35 per hour (Independent Sector, 2013).  

8.  You gain professional experience.

You can test out potential careers through serving different community partners.

7.  It brings people together.

Civic engagement unites people from diverse backgrounds to work toward a common goal – it builds camaraderie and teamwork.

6.  It promotes personal growth and self-esteem.

Understanding the needs of a community helps foster empathy and self-efficacy.

5.  It strengthens your community.

As a volunteer you help many different aspects of your community. You support families by providing daycare and eldercare. You improve schools through tutoring and literacy efforts. You support youth through mentoring and after-school programs. You beautify the community through park cleanups and road cleanups. You provide basic needs through food pantry support efforts, clothing drives, and shelter service.

4.  You learn a lot.

You discover hidden talents and pique new interests that may change your view on your self-worth. Through working with local non-profit agencies you learn about the functions and operation of our government. You gain knowledge of local resources available to solve community needs.

3.  You get a chance to give back.

You support community resources that are used to benefit people you care about.

2.  You encourage civic responsibility.

Community service and civic engagement are an investment in our community and the people who live in it.

1.  You make a difference.

Every person counts!

up