The week of April 10 is National Volunteer Week. United Way salutes the 10,000 central Iowans who each year volunteer their skills, knowledge and time to help United Way fulfill its mission and make progress toward Goals for 2020.

Volunteers are the life blood of United Way and nonprofits. In just the past year, United Way volunteers:

  • Read to young children so they are proficient readers by the end of third grade,
  • Helped hard-working people file their tax returns,Knocked on the door of a young person to encourage them to finish high school,
  • Assembled backpacks so kids from low-income families have school supplies,
  • Landscaped a new home for an immigrant family,
  • Tended a garden and donated the produce to a food pantry,
  • Served on a United Way board or cabinet, making important financial, policy and investment decisions.

Research shows volunteers are more engaged with their work and better connected with their community. They build social networks, learn new skills and reinforce their self-worth. And some research shows they enjoy better health and live longer.

Did you know a well-designed employee volunteer program is good for your business? Employees whose volunteer service is connected with their work are more productive, with a positive impact on the bottom line.  Volunteering improves employee retention, and improves customers’ perception about the company.

Celebrate National Volunteer Week by signing up for your next volunteer adventure! Here are a few:

Reading Mentor. Spend a lunch break sharing a book with a young reader

United Way Business Volunteer Council. Register your company to participate with other workplaces committed to employee volunteering.

Explore More Volunteer Opportunities

Topics: Volunteer

Shirley Burgess

Written by Shirley Burgess

Shirley Burgess is the former Volunteer Engagement Officer for United Way of Central Iowa.