Page 4 - TR What Women Want Dec 2015

4SS • What Women Want • An Advertising Supplement to the Three Rivers Edition of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette • Sunday, December 13, 2015
Volunteering can have a positive effect on the way you feel. It’s a great way to keep you connected to other people and boost self-esteem.
How GIVING BACK can be so good
Charitable endeavors made by celebrities and other prominent people often make the news. However, millions of regular people across the country and out of the limelight also do their share to
help groups that are fighting for good causes.
charity can help you in future professional endeavors.
Philanthropy produces a ‘helper’s high’
Volunteer work produces a natural feel- ing of euphoria that’s measurable and can produce positive side effects. Boston Col- lege researchers discovered that the joy from helping others can be seen on MRI scans. This euphoria can help decrease chronic pain, depression and disability.
Giving back can
boost longevity
A 1999 study from the University of Cal- ifornia, Berkeley, found that elderly people who volunteered for two or more organiza- tions were 44 percent less likely to die over a five-year period than those who did not volunteer, even after adjusting for a person’s age, exercise habits, general health and neg- ative habits such as smoking. More recent studies have uncovered similar results. Peo- ple who give help rather than just receive it can prolong their lives.
Charity work can keep you connected
Volunteering is a great way to get out and meet new people who share similar goals and interests. People who are new to an area or are recent retirees may find that volunteering helps them make new friends,
alleviating feelings of isolation. Volunteer work also provides a great way to network for business contacts or to find out what’s newsworthy in the community.
Volunteerism may boost self-esteem
Working with a nonprofit or charitable group often provides immediate results. In turn, this immediate gratification can show you that you have a purpose and are assisting others who need a helping hand. Volunteer work can help you become more confident and assertive and provide you with a greater sense of self-worth.
Giving can inspire others
Many researchers have determined that giving can be contagious. For example, a study by James Fowler of the University of California, San Diego, and Nicholas Chris- takis of Harvard that was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sci- ences found that giving can have a trickle- down effect. Much like the “pay it forward” movement, those who observe charitable efforts are more likely to give to or help people down the road.
Charitable work can benefit the people on the receiving end of efforts, but it also is beneficial to the person doing the giving.
— Courtesy of Metro Creative
People have various reasons for getting involved in philanthropic efforts. A Gallup survey on volunteering in the United States found that more than half of volunteers do it because they like helping others. Just about 40 percent said they volunteer to feel good about themselves.
As many volunteers already know, people who give get something in return. Here are just a few reasons why giving back can be good for you.
Volunteer work can broaden your skills
Volunteer work allows many people to learn entirely new sets of skills. New opportunities may present problem- solving challenges, and you can discover new ways to think about issues and causes that are dear to you. Volunteering may feel good, but it can also boost your résumé. The experience you gain working with a
WAYS TO GIVE BACK
For those looking to help others this holiday season, there are plenty of oppor- tunities in the Three Rivers Edition coverage area. Here are a few options to check out.
UNITY HEALTH
Unity Health in Searcy has a variety of opportunities available, from patient transport and tutoring to working in the gift shop and helping families. For more information, call 585-723-7101.
THE RIVER GIVER
The River Giver is a nonprofit that is designed to help the homeless popu- lation in Batesville. the organization’s volunteers help distribute supplies such as coats, toothpaste and other needed essentials and is in constant need of items. For more information, visit www. facebook.com/therivergiver.
FISHNET MISSIONS
Fishnet Missions is an all-volunteer ministry seeking to show the love of Jesus Christ by providing food and com- fort to those in need. The organization runs a food pantry and a thrift shop
and accepts donations of food and cash. Fishnet Missions also needs volunteers for its thrift shop and for other duties. For more information, visit www.my fishnetmissions.org.
LONOKE COUNTY SAFE HAVEN
Lonoke County Safe Haven’s mission is to provide hope of healing and indepen- dence to victims of domestic violence. The organization needs volunteers to transport clients to appointments, pick up donations, help answer the hotline, organize donations and more. For more information, visit www.lcsh.org.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF WHITE COUNTY
Habitat for Humanity is an organization that provides the opportunity for people and families to obtain affordable, sustain- able housing to allow for transformational development. There are many volunteer opportunities with the organization, from helping on its home builds to working at the ReStore location. For more informa- tion, visit www.habitatwhiteco.org.
UNITED WAY OF NORTH
CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Each year, the United Way of North Cen- tral Arkansas presents the Angel Tree Project, which makes sure that every child has a wonderful Christmas. People can sponsor a child from the Angel Tree and purchase gifts for them. For more in- formation, visit www.liveunitednca.org.