April is national volunteer month. It’s billed as “a time to celebrate and recognize the contributions of volunteers.”

The act of giving back can take many forms. It can mean volunteering ones time by showing up at a soup kitchen, donating money or items, serving on a non-profit board, or any number of actions that show we care for others.

People volunteer for many reasons besides the obvious end result of helping others. They like the camaraderie, they like to get out and socialize with other volunteers, they like feeling needed and appreciated and connected. In fact, human connection is a very healthy side effect of volunteerism. There’s also research showing that helping others has a positive effect on physical health and well-being.

Role models:

Many of us grew up watching our parents volunteer and give back to the community. I was no different. My parents were always generous to their church and other community organizations. They hosted foreign exchange students who attended the U of I (while also raising their eight children). They didn’t do these things to get recognition – it was just who they were and what they believed in.

To this day, my 91-year-old mother still puts others before herself. One of her favorite ways to show this is with her knitting group. “Loose Knit” members get together weekly at the Windsor of Savoy, where they knit hats, scarves and mittens which are then donated to OSF for distribution.

It’s no coincidence that people tend to volunteer more when their kids are grown and when they retire. In fact, the hospital I volunteer at is full of retirees. Some of these people have been donating their time at this hospital for decades. They have badges with the number of hours volunteered engraved. They have been “working” with the same group and have become close friends and confidantes. It is a big part of their lives.

It’s not just retirees signing up to help…

Busy people of all ages and stages still find time to help others. Trevor May, 29 is an independent Strategy Consultant based in NYC. He’s an example of a millennial who walks the “volunteer” walk.

Says Trevor, “I volunteer as a senior member of an ethics committee for a community health system, a fundraiser for two nonprofit organizations focused on animal welfare and food insecurity, the board chair of my alma mater’s alumni association, a government relations advisor for a pickleball association, and pro bono consultant for various steering committees.”

“Volunteering has always been a core part of my life, rooted in the influence of a long line of dedicated volunteers. Giving back to the community was instilled in me early on by my parents, who were deeply involved in organizations. I vividly recall spending Saturday mornings as a child engaged in community activities before we were allowed to focus on ourselves—recycling drives, pork burger sales, car washes—you name it, we showed up.”

“I’m inspired by Helen Keller’s words: “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” This quote beautifully captures why I dedicate myself to volunteering. It offers me invaluable perspective into the lives of others and is a continuous way to practice lifelong learning outside of formal education.”

“Above all, volunteering brings a deep sense of fulfillment—helping my neighbors and feeling connected to the greater good in the world.”

Giving back, volunteering, helping others, however it’s worded, it’s all about sharing our talents, time and treasure to make the world a better place for everyone. It’s often said that if you’re having a bad day, go help someone else and your problems will seem to disappear.

Readers share how and why they give back in response to the question, “Have you found a volunteer gig that you love? Something that feeds your soul?”

–    Cindy Magsamen: “I’m a volunteer with Make -A-Wish Illinois. I love meeting with our Wish kiddos and their families. It’s our mission to create life-changing wishes for every child with critical illness. And of course, the fundraising efforts to support all children referred to Make-A-Wish Illinois. I’ve met and have worked with several area children and their families. It’s so rewarding and inspiring to meet these children.

–    Deb Goss: “I really enjoyed the years I mentored students. I always hoped I made a difference in their lives.”

–    Barbara Kenny-Langendorf: “I delivered meals on wheels. They were so grateful and happy to see someone… sometimes the only person that day.”

–     Teresa O’Connell: “I volunteer with the Champaign Urbana Special Recreation (CUSR) Theater group. What a great group of people! It’s not All about “me”, it’s ALWAYS, All about “us.”

–    Jim Bean: “I play guitar and sing at the Burger King in Savoy on Friday mornings from 11:30-1:00. I donate all of the tip money directly to some of our unhoused neighbors in downtown Champaign on Saturdays. I’ve been doing this for several weeks and have raised and distributed over $1,200 so far.”

–    Paula Strong: “I work with League of Women Voters, training high school students to be voter registrars at their schools and doing presentations encouraging school mates to vote.”

–     Randi Lundstedt: “I enjoy volunteering at the local schools teaching Yoga or helping with reading or math tutoring. I’m a retired teacher and I miss the kids.”

–    Stefanie Pratt: “I have volunteered for three decades in the local community – primarily with not for profits, boards, events and my own holiday meal program. Building my businesses, I don’t always have the time to do all I want, so I sponsor and attend functions. I see it as God has blessed me with a strong mindset and heart to succeed in life. I, in turn, need to give back where I can to support others.”

–     Kathy Young: “I started with the Master Gardeners in 2014 which led to being a volunteer in the Children’s Garden at Crisis Nursery. I’ve been on the board there for several years now. Taking a hobby that feeds my soul and using it to help others is very gratifying.”

–    Renee Mullen: “I’ve been blessed to volunteer for many years at the Pregnancy Resource Center (PRC), one of thousands of free, faith-based pregnancy centers across our great country. The PRC provides all of their services for free to anyone in need. Many women, children and families are helped each year. Being there is often the highlight of my week. It absolutely feeds my soul and I know it makes a difference.”

–    John Kelley: “First String basketball at the Douglass Center. Great fun watching the kids play and grow up with the community and cheer them on. The leadership of the group is inspiring. There are great service exemplars in Peter McFarland and John Cooper, among many others.”

–     Rich Decker: “I volunteer on various committees in my Tennessee neighborhood. We are a volunteer community. I am on the road crew cleaning up downed trees and running the snow plow, I am on the building committee performing repairs on our facilities, I am on the security committee and I am Vice President of our property owner’s association. It keeps me busy in retirement.”

–      Debbie Wille: “I volunteer at a ranch in Arizona. The horses I work with are rescues and I know most of them have been neglected. I love it when you call their name and they come for supplements and a hug. It helps me as much as it does them. That’s why I volunteer.”

–     Janice Ellis-Nelson: “Being a member of the Rotary Club of Champaign has been very meaningful to me. In the past few weeks, I’ve helped Lithuanian educators and advocates learn about inclusion of special education students in public schools and given the gift of sight to hundreds of children and adults by volunteering at a vision clinic we set up in four different schools in Guadalajara, Mexico.”

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” – Winston Churchill