Remember to Give Back to Your Community

This Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Throughout The Year Give Back to Your Community

For over 20 years Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service has encouraged individuals to volunteer their time and help improve their communities. Here at YMCA we’re encouraging everyone to use this day as an opportunity to think how you can incorporate volunteering into your plans.

In our busy day-to-day lives, volunteering can quickly take a back seat to other obligations and priorities. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, volunteering has seen a decline in the United States for the past decade; only 25.3 percent of American adults volunteered in 2014, the lowest rate since the government began collecting this data 13 years ago.

But take a minute...and imagine our community without volunteers. Afterschool teen programming at our Y would no longer exist. Little League teams would disappear due to the lack of coaches. Our city food pantries would have a shortage both of workers and food. Your elderly neighbors wouldn’t receive their regular check-ins from their churches, but with help our community grows. 

Our community needs volunteers like you to keep it going. But this isn’t a one way street—while the community benefits from a volunteer’s work, the volunteer benefits as well! A recent Gallop poll found that nine out of 10 people said they receive an emotional boost from doing kind things for other people.

Across the country, the Y helps individuals give back and assist their neighbors by offering volunteer opportunities and programs that help strengthen community. Each of our volunteers’ selflessness and willingness to roll up their sleeves to give back helps improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of kids, adults and families.  We’re grateful for each and every one of them and we hope you’ll join their ranks. This Martin Luther King, Jr. Day find a program or organization that is meaningful to you and give them a call. You’ll certainly be glad you did!

For more opportunities to volunteer, visit: www.ymcadallas.org/volunteer

The Y.™ For A Better Us.™