Timely Topic: Why Do People Volunteer During the Holidays?
11.08.2021
Caleb Kasner (right), then a neuroscience senior, scoops rice as part of an assembly line of volunteers who packed meals for the MLK Day of Service event in 2019.
The holidays seem to bring out the best in people: Volunteerism typically increases 50% during November and December, even though 1 in 4 adults routinely engage in giving back year-round.
So how does one get started volunteering or find meaningful opportunities to give back? One University of Texas at Dallas assistant professor of public and nonprofit management has some answers and tips.
Dr. Allison Russell, who teaches in the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences, studies the connection between volunteering and improved well-being, especially among older adults. Her research centers on the nonprofit and voluntary sector.
As the holiday season approaches, Russell shared her insights about volunteering during the holidays and tips for getting involved.
Q: What is it about the holidays that makes people want to volunteer?
A: A lot of people who volunteer do so because they are motivated by their values and beliefs. They are personally aligned with the mission of an organization and feel they can contribute by donating their time and talent. The holiday season can be a time of introspection for many, leading them to refocus on what’s important to them and perhaps inspiring them to take action.
People also may be looking for activities to do with their children and extended families, and volunteering at seasonal events and activities can be a great option.
Q: Does religion play a part in this?
A: Religiosity and membership in a congregation have both been shown to contribute to an individual’s likelihood of volunteering. Because many major religions have important holidays during this time of year, people may be (re)drawn to their congregations and beliefs, leading to a (re)discovery of volunteering and opportunities to serve.
Research shows that one of the greatest predictors of an individual’s likelihood of volunteering is simply being asked. Organizations, especially churches, often have events during the holidays that increase their need for volunteers.
Q: What are some of the benefits of volunteering?
A: Volunteering has been shown to lead to personal and social fulfillment by connecting people with other members of their community who share their values and beliefs. It can also provide a way to build new skills or increase one’s knowledge and experience and can even to lead to career opportunities.
For organizations, volunteers act as a critical human resource, allowing nonprofits and public agencies to increase their capacity to pursue their mission. Volunteers can provide perspective, expertise and enthusiasm that complements or substitutes for the work of paid staff. Thus, volunteers can multiply the impact of the organization and attract other forms of support by acting as ambassadors.
Q: Do the effects of volunteering differ for different groups?
A: The effects of volunteering on health and well-being have been shown to be particularly strong for older adults.
One explanation for this is role theory, which suggests that volunteering may serve as a substitute for the loss of important social roles that often occur in later life due to retirement, widowhood or children moving out of the home. Volunteering may act as a buffer against the detrimental effects of losing these other roles by keeping individuals connected with others and giving them purposeful and meaningful activities.
Q: What have you learned from your research about volunteering across different age groups?
A: Adults 65 and older volunteer less frequently than younger people, but when they do volunteer, they contribute on average more hours than younger volunteers. Older adults contribute nearly 2 billion volunteer hours annually.
Youth and young adults benefit from volunteering through skill building and exposure to new people, perspectives and experiences. Volunteering at a young age can be a gateway to a lifetime of service to one’s community. We often see that volunteering “runs in families.”
People in midlife tend to volunteer at higher rates than younger and older adults, in part because their family roles lead them to have more opportunities for involvement.
Q: How might families volunteer together this holiday season?
A: Start with organizations you’re familiar with or care about in your community. Make sure you check to see if they can accommodate young children and teens as volunteers so that you can best support that organization’s needs and have a positive experience.
A wonderful element of volunteering is that it brings together people of different ages and life experiences. If you’re interested in connecting across generations, check out opportunities with local nursing homes or youth-serving organizations. Encore.org and AARP offer resources for getting involved.
Q: What tips do you have for volunteering at this point in the pandemic?
A: If you’re concerned about volunteering in person right now, be sure to find out about the organization’s policies around masking and social distancing.
Virtual and remote volunteering can improve access to volunteer opportunities for many people. Start with an organization you’ve volunteered with in the past or one you care about. VolunteerMatch and other emerging platforms, like Corona Connects, can help.
Finally, if you have an older family member or friend who was an active volunteer pre-COVID-19 but had to put that on hold, a great way to spend your time and energy this holiday season could be to help them find ways to volunteer virtually by exploring volunteering platforms together.
–Brittany Magelssen
Note to journalists: Dr. Allison Russell is available for news media interviews. Contact Brittany Magelssen, 972-883-4357, brittany.hoover@utdallas.edu.