volunteering and service

Why do volunteering and service matter

Wendy Spencer is CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency that leads AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and other efforts that recruit and engage more than 5 million volunteers annually.

In this series of questions and answers, Spencer celebrates the importance — and advantages — of volunteering, both for those who serve and for the communities they impact.

Why do volunteering and service matter for our nation?

Volunteering and service are woven into the fabric of our country’s history. We are a nation of people who care for and look out for each other. At CNCS, much of our work is focused on improving the lives of citizens who want the opportunity to succeed and live the American Dream. That dream can mean different things for different people, whether it is owning their own home, creating a better life for their children, getting an education or learning a new skill that leads to greater economic opportunity.

Volunteers are critical to achieving those goals and improving the economic and social well-being of our nation. And as any Habitat volunteer knows, service is also a way to connect with our neighbors and use our skills for the common good.

Our latest Volunteering and Civic Life in America study continues to show that service to others is a core American value. Last year, one in four Americans volunteered through an organization, giving 7.7 billion hours of service valued at 173 billion. In addition, two-thirds of Americans engaged in informal volunteering by helping their neighbors.

We are blessed to live in a country where service is so prevalent, and we are committed to expanding service opportunities so more Americans can get involved.

Can you discuss the benefits of service for those who volunteer?

Anyone who has ever volunteered knows the joy and satisfaction that comes from helping others. Study after study shows that volunteering benefits the volunteers as well as those being served, providing health benefits, social connections and a psychological boost.

And there is compelling evidence that volunteering can also help improve employment prospects. Our Volunteering as a Pathway to Employment research found that volunteers have a 27 percent higher likelihood of finding a job after being out of work than non-volunteers. Service can increase a person’s professional contacts, skills and experience — all factors positively related to finding work.

What surprises people the most about the volunteering experience?

Volunteering is contagious! Once you start, you want to do it more and more — and you want to bring your friends along, too. In fact, I hear stories all the time about our national service members and volunteers whose experience led them to get involved in public service or change careers so they can help others full time.

One my favorite stories is about Regina Best, a military veteran who began her recovery from homelessness through her service with Habitat AmeriCorps. Her service restored her confidence and gave her the opportunity to rebuild her life and hope for the future. Best of all, she has a drive to continue serving veterans and others in her community.

Can you talk about your connection to Habitat for Humanity?

Years ago when I served with Habitat, I learned to tile a roof. This job was something I had never done before, and I learned while participating in an all-woman build. Now I know I have the option to pursue roofing as a second career!

As CEO of Volunteer Florida and in my current role at CNCS, I have had many chances to visit Habitat sites. The Habitat experience is an extraordinary model of the “twin engines” that drive the service movement: full-time AmeriCorps members mobilizing and working alongside traditional volunteers to get things done.

During our 20-year partnership with Habitat, more than 8,000 Habitat AmeriCorps members have mobilized 3.1 million volunteers who have helped build or repair homes for 20,000 families. Thousands of our Senior Corps volunteers also serve on Habitat sites.

Through this partnership, we are helping Habitat recruit, retain and harness more value from each volunteer — advancing Habitat’s critical mission of bringing people together to build homes, communities, and hope.