Recession-Inspired
Laid-off workers are gaining confidence by volunteering
Job losses are never easy to cope with, but some Americans are turning a discouraging event into an opportunity to give back to the community.
Volunteering can offer the unemployed an opportunity to share their talents and energies with others, as well as boost their own sense of self-worth.
"To be able to go there and be busy working and make a difference, it's provided good mental stability and support," single mom Leah Magee of Nashville told the Tennessean.
Since she lost her job in December, Magee has been spending 25 hours per week helping out at a nonprofit community theater, according to the newspaper.
In addition to gaining a sense of accomplishment, some people view volunteering as an opportunity to meet people who may help them get back into the workforce.
Unemployed volunteer Jennifer Whiddon of Mobile, Alabama told Reuters she is confident that in the future "making the connections will pay off."
Figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that 22 percent of unemployed Americans engage in some sort of volunteer work.
Find more stories about job loss.
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Comments
I agree wholeheartedly with
I agree wholeheartedly with this; over 7 years ago before I found my current job, I was going to volunteer at one of the local hospitals near my house. I needed to get out in the public & have contact w/the outside to keep myself from getting down, with the added plus of helping others. And you never know what being out there would bring. The day I was to start my volunteering - my current boss called & offered me my current job. Remember, God is always on time!
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