I wanted to write an article on volunteering since this is so important for a community. Many people have time and wonderful talents they can offer.

Whitehall-Coplay Hunger Initiative is 100% volunteer. We have many dedicated, selfless volunteers who really enjoy working with each other and helping our low-income residents obtain one of life’s necessities - food.

Without our volunteers, WCHI could never fulfill our mission of alleviating food insecurity in Whitehall Township and Coplay Borough. A huge thank you is extended to everyone who helps WCHI.

Due to increasing food, gas, rent, child care and medicine costs, WCHI was pleased to serve 296 households in December 2023, consisting of 391 children, 512 adults and 225 seniors. We anticipate 2024’s attendance to increase.

WCHI can always use more volunteers. Contact Sylvia Lee, WCHI volunteer chair, at volunteer.lee@gmail.com. Learn more at tinyurl.com/WCHIvolunteer and click on the volunteer tabs.

I found this article on the benefits of community service from Western Connecticut State University and wanted to share some of it with you. The article can be found at tinyurl.com/9wsz5utf.

“Volunteering connects you to others. One of the better-known benefits of volunteering is the impact on the community. Unpaid volunteers are often the glue that holds a community together. Volunteering allows you to connect to your community and make it a better place. Even helping out with the smallest tasks can make a real difference to the lives of people in need. And volunteering is a two-way street - it can benefit you and your family as much as the cause you choose to help. Dedicating your time as a volunteer helps you make new friends, expand your network and boost your social skills.

“One of the best ways to make new friends and strengthen existing relationships is to commit to a shared activity together. Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, especially if you are new to an area. Volunteering also strengthens your ties to the community and broadens your support network, exposing you to people with common interests, neighborhood resources and fun and fulfilling activities.

“Volunteering increases your social and relationship skills. While some people are naturally outgoing, others are shy and have a hard time meeting new people. Volunteering gives you the opportunity to practice and develop your social skills since you are meeting regularly with a group of people with common interests. Once you have momentum, it’s easier to branch out and make more friends and contacts.

“Volunteering provides many benefits to both mental and physical health. Volunteering can provide a healthy boost to your self-confidence, self-esteem and life satisfaction. You are doing good for others and the community, which provides a natural sense of accomplishment. Your role as a volunteer can also give you a sense of pride and identity. And the better you feel about yourself, the more likely you are to have a positive view of your life and future goals.

“Volunteering combats depression. Reducing the risk of depression is another important benefit of volunteering. A key risk factor for depression is social isolation. Volunteering keeps you in regular contact with others and helps you develop a solid support system, which in turn protects you against stress and depression when you’re going through challenging times.

“Volunteering helps you stay physically healthy. Volunteering is good for your health at any age, but it’s especially beneficial in older adults. Studies have found that those who volunteer have a lower mortality rate than those who do not, even when considering factors like the health of the participants. Volunteering has also been shown to lessen symptoms of chronic pain or heart disease.

“Volunteering brings fun and fulfillment to your life. Volunteering is a fun and easy way to explore your interests and passions. Doing volunteer work you find meaningful and interesting can be a relaxing, energizing escape from your day-to-day routine of work, school or family commitments. Volunteering also provides you with renewed creativity, motivation and vision that can carry over into your personal and professional life.”

I hope you found this article informative and would consider volunteering with WCHI.

Have a great week!