What Volunteering Does for Community Life

by NRC on April 5, 2016

#ServeYourCity

During the month of April, the U.S. celebrates National Volunteer Month. Each year, National Research Center, Inc. (NRC) participates in philanthropy and believes that volunteering is vital to overall community cooperation and the inclusivity of resident participation. NRC’s survey specialists are also active members of their own communities and many of them have made volunteering a part of their lives.

When asked why volunteering is important, here is what NRC staff had to say:

“When a resident becomes a volunteer in a community, he or she shifts roles from that of customer to that of a participant and stakeholder. In a time when government is experiencing greater mistrust and fewer resources, this transition in resident role is imperative. Communities with higher levels of volunteerism and participation more often experience higher levels of public trust.”

- NRC Vice President, Michelle Kobayashi

“I volunteer every Tuesday with foster kids in Aurora. The kids have experienced a lot of trauma and instability in their live short lifetimes. Because of volunteers, those kids now have an opportunity to cultivate positive, consistent relationships with adults who would not otherwise be available to them. Volunteering also lets money be allocated to other things, therefore allowing cities and counties to be more fiscally responsible.”

– Survey Specialist, Madeleine Winslow

“Volunteering is an opportunity to lend our time and abilities in order to make a lasting impact on the lives of others.”

– Social Media Coordinator, Erin Dixon

“To me, volunteering is how you take care of your community and look out for those who don’t have the same advantages. I volunteer at a local food pantry because I feel fortunate that my family has enough healthy food to eat and I want to help make that a reality for families that are struggling. Volunteering is also a way that you can preserve and encourage things that are important to you. I want to live somewhere where the arts thrive. For every hour I volunteer for performing arts, I’m helping those organizations put more of their money into making great productions. And I’m helping keep ticket costs affordable and accessible to more people.”

– Office Coordinator, Katie Zoss

“Volunteering is a great way to get outside of your comfort zone. We spend so much time in a ‘me-oriented’ mindset, but I think engaging in service offers us the chance to get out of our heads and into the world.”

– Survey Specialist, Annika Erickson-Pearson

“Giving time is one of the most effective ways we can shape how our community looks and acts, both in the present and in the future. When we volunteer, we find other people who share a vision with us and work with us to build the kind of community we agree is worth living in.”

– Survey Specialist, Jenn Roche

“I think volunteering is important because it helps communities run more smoothly, especially when that help is needed most.”

– Marketing and Business Development Coordinator, Angelica Wedell

How do you volunteer? Throughout April, join the conversation on social media using #ServeYourCity.

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National Research Center, Inc. ( NRC ) is a leading research and evaluation firm focusing on the information requirements of the public sector, including non-profit agencies, health care providers, foundations and local governments. Visit our home on the Web at www.n-r-c.com. Check out our blog for more news, tips and human-interest stories from NRC.