By Karen Sternheimer
We all know that volunteering is good for the group or organization we are helping. They get our free labor, leaving more specialized tasks for paid employees.
But what if you could gain more from volunteering than you give? Would that make you more likely to share your limited amount of free time?
As a perpetually busy person, I have often shied away from volunteering my time. This year I have volunteered to be on two non-work-related committees and for a trail race organization. It helps to share your time for a cause or activity that you care about. I remember decades ago, my grandfather, an avid golfer, volunteered to be an usher at a PGA tournament in his area. He talked about meeting the pro-golfers at the tournament for years after. He saw a few hours of his time as a very small price to pay for an opportunity to be in the same place as famous golfers.
Volunteering for a trail race organization has involved getting up very early (in one case at 2 am) and driving more than an hour each way to help at the start of ultramarathons and shorter trail races. Checking people in or helping them with their drop bags (gear and supplies for use at aid stations when running very long distances) gives me a chance to help someone about to run 100 miles. Playing a small role supporting their race feels good.
Volunteering has also given me a chance to meet people in what is often a solo sport. Previously, I would arrive at events standing around awkwardly and warm up alone. I felt like an outsider.
Checking runners in, I am one of the first people they talk to when they arrive. I make a point to say “have fun” or “have a great race,” to start them off on a positive note. Some people introduce themselves by saying they are “just running” a 10k, or “just a half marathon,” which gives me a chance to remind them—and myself—that any distance is an accomplishment. Social comparison is an obstacle we all face.
As a volunteer, I have something to do and a reason to talk to others for an hour or two before the event. People inevitably discuss their running histories, shoes and other gear, and all the things that non-runners don’t want to talk about. People share their injury recovery stories, their struggles to make cut off times, and how it feels to come in last. I am often reminded of the scene from Close Encounters of the Third Kind when those who have become obsessed with their alien encounters meet similarly obsessed others. They realize they are not crazy, and they are not alone. I love being out on trails alone, yet with others.
After my most recent volunteering experience, the race director sent a message thanking us for our time. Several people responded back thanking her for the opportunity. One person wrote, “it was worth my 90-mile drive…I enjoyed the JOY of sweeping [making sure all the runners had finished] the 10k race and making new friends. Looking forward to doing it all again [emphasis in original].”
Another volunteer wrote that they were “just grateful for the opportunity to touch at least one human participating in the event and encourage them on.”
As a runner who also participates in the races, it feels great to be on the receiving end of someone’s encouragement. It’s really common to hear “great job,” “nice work,” “you got this,” or “looking strong” and it feels just as good to say it too. Letting someone know they’re almost to an aid station is a common source of encouragement. I said it to one runner, who said they were out of water and so grateful to hear that more was available soon. Encouraging others uplifts both parties.
The benefits of volunteering are not just anecdotal. According to a 2022 study published in Social Sciences & Medicine, those who volunteered 100-300 hours per year reported better health and were less likely to experience depression. For older adults with limited social ties, volunteering can be particularly important to their overall health and well-being. As I wrote about last year, research that social interaction reduces cognitive decline supports volunteering. As a child, I never understood why my grandmother volunteered for a nursing home in her own later years. But it kept her connected with others.
Census data from 2024 suggest that 28 percent of Americans volunteered that year, with more than half providing informal assistance to people they know. So why don’t more of us volunteer?
A huge barrier to volunteering is an already full schedule. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ American Time Use Survey (ATUS), the average worker spends two hours per day on household chores on top of 8.3 hours of work (for those working full time) and 4 hours of leisure. That’s a full 14-hour day. According to ATUS, the less education and income, the more work and less leisure time people are likely to have. Ironically, this means those with more stressful lives are less likely to reap the emotional and physical benefits of volunteering.
Volunteering can help us feel more connected to something we care about and to like-minded others. Whether it is a hobby, a child’s school, a religious group, or a charitable organization, finding the right fit matters. I got a race entry and a t-shirt for my time, and as the research noted above indicates, so much more.