Sound Advice from Scott Coe, CoastHills Community Foundation Chair
At CoastHills, our vision is “Making a Difference in our Neighbors’ Lives.” This commitment expands beyond the 61,000 members of our Credit Union. It speaks to being difference makers in all of the great communities that make up the Central Coast. The employees and volunteer board members that make up our staff volunteered more than 4,000 hours of community service last year, and are on pace to exceed that amount in 2011.
Not only does community service provide the foundation for countless organizations, it also provides many benefits for those who do the volunteering.
Healthy
Experts will tell you that when you focus on someone other than yourself, it can be essential in reducing tension. Plus, the satisfaction of providing a helping hand and the joy that comes from the physical nature of volunteering can help strengthen your immune system and increase your overall health.
There are many ways to volunteer your time, so look for an activity or organization that provides enjoyment for you. A great way to get involved is to provide support for community resources that impact you or your family, or for some cause that benefits people you care about. Once you find a good match, the time spent on volunteer work really becomes a labor of love rather than laborious.
Wealthy
The estimated value of volunteer service is more than $15 per hour. That means that for every 10 hours a person volunteers his or her time, that enables $150 to be spent on materials such as food, clothing, research, or other valuable resources.
Wise
When you take an active role in your community, you become more aware of the goings on around you. It is easy to sit on the sidelines and be critical of decisions that are made or of programs that are implemented. But when you take part in the process, you develop a stronger appreciation for it. Plus, identifying and utilizing the necessary resources to solve the needs of your community is often an awakening experience.
The bottom line in volunteer service is simple: It is a great investment in your community and in the people who live in it. So, make a goal to get involved, to volunteer your time, and to make a difference in your neighbors’ lives.
That’s So CoastHills.
