By Madison Fessler / Jambar Contributor
With the conclusion of the holiday season, many people felt the need to volunteer more in the Mahoning Valley.
In a 2021 article by The University of Texas at Dallas Magazine, it stated volunteerism rises 50% during the holidays.
Mollie Hartup, director of Sokolov Honors College, said the increase in volunteers comes from reflecting inward.
“Many of us have blessings in our lives and at this time of year, we look for ways to give back. While we’re thinking about the people on our shopping list, we also often think about those who are less fortunate and may have to go without a holiday,” Hartup said. “It’s very natural for people to want to open up their hearts and perhaps their wallets.”
Allison Russell, who teaches at UT Dallas, stated there’s a connection between volunteering and improved well-being.
“There’s just something special about being able to give and serve someone else,” Hartup said. “The holidays can be a joyous time and if you’re able to give a little bit and make a difference in the lives of someone else, who wouldn’t necessarily have as nice of a holiday, how could that not make you feel good?”
Gabbrial Perrotta, senior biology major, said she likes having a meaning behind her volunteerism.
“I like knowing what I’m doing is impacting someone in some way. It just feels good,” Perrotta said.
Russell also said volunteering leads to personal and social fulfillment through connections.
“[Volunteering connects] people with other members of their community who share their values and beliefs. It can also provide a way to build new skills or increase one’s knowledge and experience and can even lead to career opportunities,” Russell stated.
Hartup said the honors college teaches students to pick volunteer opportunities that interest them.
“If you’re doing something that you enjoy doing, it’s not going to feel like work. The best type of community engagement projects are those where you really are sharing your talents, your interests and truly meeting somebody else’s needs,” Hartup said.
Volunteer opportunities for students, faculty and staff are available on the Penguin Pulse website.
