Whether for religious, practical, business or altruistic reasons, volunteering has long been seen as the ultimate charitable act. Some people donate their time by volunteering in the physical sense, whether it’s building houses or cleaning up the beach. Others tutor and provide counseling, while still others work at and maintain charities and trusts that are the backbone of the nation volunteer armies. All are vital in keeping some of our most important institutions running and helping society nurture and support vulnerable populations.
Some even make the ultimate sacrifice, taking on the risks of being subjects in medical experiments designed to test new medications and procedures.
A Harvard research study of United States census data indicates that the number of volunteers in this country age 65 and over should increase by 50 percent over the next 13 years, rising from 2007’s total of just under 9 million to over 13 million by 2020. That trend is expected to extend into the future, as the youngest members of the Baby Boom won’t hit 65 until 2029.
What’s more, Baby Boomers are volunteering at much higher rates in their 40s and 50s than previous generations did at the same age. The rising tide of volunteerism seems to beget the urge to do more as well. The more hours per year spent in volunteer activity, the more likely the same people are to continue on year after year.
A good deed such as volunteering was once believed to be its own reward. But now there is evidence that the volunteer actually receives some health benefits from his or her participation in various charitable and goodwill activities.