National Volunteer Week is April 10-16

04/12/2016
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National Volunteer Week:
It’s a time to promote and show appreciation for volunteerism

 

National Volunteer Week is an annual celebration observed in the United States and Canada to promote and show appreciation for volunteerism in the two countries. It’s also about inspiring, recognizing and encouraging people to seek out imaginative ways to engage in their communities. This year the week is observed April 10-16. In the United States it’s organized by the Points of Light foundation.

First conceived in Canada in 1943, as a way to celebrate the contribution made by women on the home front for the war effort, it declined in popularity after World War II ended, but was revived in the 1960s and eventually began gaining popularity in the United States as well.

President Richard Nixon established National Volunteer Week with an executive order in 1974, as a way to recognize and celebrate the efforts of volunteers. Every sitting U.S. president since Nixon has issued a proclamation during National Volunteer Week (as have many U.S. mayors and governors).

Since then, the original emphasis on celebration has widened; the week has become a nationwide effort to urge people to get out and volunteer in their communities. Every April, charities, hospitals, and communities recognize volunteers and foster a culture of service.

The benefits of volunteering are many. Beside the benefits to society, scientific studies have shown that individuals who volunteer enjoy psychological and physical benefits, including increased satisfaction, improved sense of belonging, lower blood pressure, increased protection from Alzheimer’s, and decreased mortality.

To locate volunteer opportunities in your area, visit the pointsoflight.org website. They have a search engine you can use to locate an opportunity. For seniors looking to volunteer, visitseniorcorps.org.
 

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BLOG Date: Tuesday, April 12, 2016
Writer: Ryan Allen

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