We all should know by now that there are many dedicated volunteers who help out in our school each day.  Right?   We thank all of our volunteers for all that they do.

We also should know that each month we feature one or more of our volunteers in the “Volunteer of the Month” column of our Smile-O Gram. 

We have a lot of volunteers that come to our school to help us out. Did you know that volunteering is not only good for the school but also good for the volunteers? Volunteering makes you feel good about yourself, and it may help you live longer too. According to a recent study of more than twelve hundred older adults, from researchers at the University of Michigan, those who volunteer for even small amounts of time (like about forty hours or less a year) actually enjoy longer lives.

When you donate your time, you get feelings that come with knowing you have helped others. There are many reasons people may choose to volunteer. Some of these include learning more about specific organizations or activity, getting rid of stress, worry, boredom, or sadness, making new friends, getting through a personal loss, and getting to feel like part of something larger than yourself.

If you are thinking of becoming a volunteer, the researchers suggest that you take time to consider these questions. How much time can you spend volunteering? How can you fit volunteering into your schedule? What are your interests?