April is National Volunteer Month: Give Your Time and You May Just Improve Your Life

Late last year, AmeriCorps released a study, Volunteering and Civic Life in America, on how people make a difference in their communities. They found that formal volunteering―defined as people giving unpaid help through groups, clubs, or organizations―is back and on the rise post-pandemic. Here are just a few of the findings:

• The national volunteering rate rose 5.1 percent between 2022 and 2023, a 22 percent increase in just two years.

• More than 75.7 million people―or 28.3 percent of Americans―formally volunteered with an organization in 2023.

• Nearly 5 billion hours of service were volunteered during 2023, with an economic value of $167.2 billion.

At Tharros Place, a nonprofit providing residential services for girls ages 12 to 17 who are survivors of human trafficking, we could not do what we do without our volunteers. Education-wise, it's crucial for our residents to gain the important life skills offered in the volunteer curriculum. Emotionally, these volunteers help our girls rebuild trust by being a steady presence in their lives. Last year, our volunteers did everything from repairs, landscaping, and decorating to teaching life skills like sewing, painting, and cooking meals with our residents. Because of their time, dedication, and care, we are transforming these girls from victims to young women brimming with confidence, self-respect and courage. We also have academic tutors and mentors who volunteer their time.

This op-ed appeared in Savannah Morning News. Click here to read the full piece.