Letter to the Editor: Volunteering is important

(The following is a Letter to the Editor from Riverview Center Sexual Assault Advocate Jessica Rupp)

'Tis the season for gift giving, spending time with family, reflecting on 2014 and preparing for the new year.  Many people spend this time of the year making resolutions to improve themselves.  This list typically includes losing weight or quitting tobacco use. While those are both great goals, in 2015, I would like to challenge you to do things differently, to give the ultimate gift of sharing your time and talents by volunteering in our community.
 
Volunteers connect with others and impact the lives of the people they serve.  Whether someone is well-established or a young person still in school, volunteering joins people together for a common cause and unites them with the community. Many volunteers find a greater sense of belonging through their work, and inspire others as well as, strengthening our neighborhoods and enhancing our pride in the place we call home.

Research has also shown that volunteering builds self-esteem. Volunteers are needed by many nonprofits to support their work and advocate for their cause, and in filling that role, volunteers gain a sense of value and pride. Over time, volunteers develop new skills, procure work experience to assist them with the job they already have or for a new career, and increase their self-confidence.

So this year, reach out to nonprofits whose causes you care about. There are so many to choose from in our community. For example, Riverview Center provides sexual assault services to survivors at the hospital, Helping Services has numerous volunteer opportunities from mentoring to working with people experiencing domestic violence, and Cedar Valley Friends of the Family provides sheltering services to people experiencing homelessness. For each opportunity, there are even more ways to get involved. From direct service to creating and distributing flyers, there is something to fit everyone's schedules, talents, and expectations.