For a non-profit like Highland Canine Connect, volunteers are the lifeblood of our organization! Without the generous donations of time, energy and effort from our volunteers, many of our programs – including community-focused initiatives like our School Reading Program – simply wouldn’t be possible.
With this in mind, we wanted to take a moment to explain the importance of volunteering – not just for our organization, but for those among you who are wondering if it is a worthwhile investment of your time. You may be surprised to learn that giving your time can be just as beneficial for yourself as it can be to the nonprofits and charities you work with.
P.S. If you love dogs – and love the powerful connections that dogs can create with humans to enrich their lives – find out how you can get involved with Highland Canine Connect here!
Health benefits
It sounds like a huge contradiction – a selfless endeavor like volunteering shouldn’t be something you do for your own benefit. However, research has continued to demonstrate the enormous health benefits of volunteering.
Those who volunteer have been found to experience greater satisfaction with life and improved mental health. In addition, some volunteer organizations can encourage greater physical health through improved movement and activity. There is also a lot to be said for the human interaction aspect of volunteering, as it puts you in direct contact with like-minded people who share the same values and beliefs as you do.
Gives back to worthy causes
In our interconnected world, it’s easy to see through social media that there are so many organizations performing valuable work – yet still, it seems that all of us could do more to help. Often, these organizations don’t just need financial support to help achieve their mission. It requires people to spend their time, which is the most precious commodity of all.
While financial donations are vital to funding the important work of nonprofits, volunteering is something that all of us can do – if we make the time. This is an easy way to give back to local organizations and communities at no cost, except for prioritizing a small amount of our monthly time budget to a charitable endeavor. For example, many of our volunteers at Highland Canine Connect have been proud to dedicate their time to our programs in schools, which encourage children to read with confidence alongside canine companions.
Provides a sense of purpose
At all stages of our lives – whether we’re a college student, an adult with a full-time job, or a retiree, we’re all striving for a sense of purpose. We also want to make the world a brighter place. What better way to achieve those goals than by volunteering?
No matter where you’re at in your own life, giving back to others is a great way to gain direction and improve ourselves. Not only can we enlighten others with our knowledge and experience, but volunteering can teach you new perspectives on the world, too.
Building organizations that share the same passion
Building something that stands the test of time – especially a nonprofit organization, that is competing for time, attention and finances – is difficult. It requires ideas, innovation and execution from everybody. That includes volunteers!
By putting time and hard work towards a common goal, we can help to improve the world by improving organizations that further the causes we are passionate about.
How you can volunteer with Highland Canine Connect
If you’re looking for a way to volunteer and make a difference, look no further than Highland Canine Connect!
Our nonprofit provides fully-trained service dogs for individuals in need; works with law enforcement organizations to donate Police K9s; and works in our local communities through initiatives like our School Reading Program to build confidence in children. Whether you have decades of experience with dogs, or zero at all – and no matter in what capacity you wish to volunteer – we’d love to hear from people who share our mission to improve lives through human-canine connections.
For more information on volunteering with our nonprofit, contact us on (704) 500-8367 or email us at connect@highlandcanine.com.
