So you’ve probably heard by now that today is Earth Day — the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, in fact. We’d also like to let our readers know that this week is also National Volunteer Week. In honor of the occasion, a survey was released by UnitedHealthcare and VolunteerMatch, that found that 68 percent of people who have volunteered in the past year say that volunteering has made them feel physically healthier.
The survey of more than 4,500 adult Americans found that 41 percent of them had volunteered in the past year, and 7 in 10 reported having donated to a nonprofit. Of those who volunteered, 84 percent felt that volunteering improved their physical health, and 95 percent agreed that volunteering also improves emotional health.
Interestingly, volunteering was also correlated with a healthier Body Mass Index (BMI), with a significantly lower amount of volunteers identified as obese (31 percent) when compared to non-volunteers (36 percent.) Twenty-nine percent of volunteers who reported suffering from a chronic condition said that volunteering helped them manage their illness.
So if you’re looking for a way to feel healthier, and celebrate Earth Day yet today, why not take a walk and pick up litter this evening in your neighborhood? Or if you’re looking for ways to volunteer your time to benefit the community that are more sustained (and sustainable!) check out VolunteerMatch.org, where you can search on volunteer opportunities that focus on improving the environment.
