Benefits of volunteering

Whether you’re serving food, planting trees, mentoring youth, or sharing your specialized talents, volunteering can be as beneficial to you as the organization you’re helping.

Premera supports the communities we serve, and we’re proving it by putting nearly $40 million into efforts to address health issues across Washington and Alaska.

In addition to giving your community a boost when you donate your time, you’ll give your health a boost. Here’s how:

• Decreases risk of depression: Volunteering is an opportunity for social interaction and connects you to people with similar interests, which has been shown to decrease rates of depression.

• Boosts self-confidence: Imagine watching a child go from struggling to reading with ease or a pallet of bulk foods being transformed into easy-to-distribute portions. You can do that! Volunteering gives a sense of accomplishment that boosts confidence.
• Gives a sense of purpose: Volunteering is an opportunity to turn anger into action. If there’s an issue you’re passionate about, you can make a difference by showing up. Giving your time to do whatever is needed can put things in perspective and instill a sense of compassion for others.
• Lowers blood pressure: While scientific studies haven’t shown that volunteering directly lowers blood pressure. Volunteering has been shown to be associated with lower blood pressure. One reason might be because working gets you moving and increased activity can decrease blood pressure. 
• Keeps your brain sharp: Particularly for older adults, volunteering improved cognitive function. In turn, improved cognitive functioning improves quality of life.
• Gives you experience: Volunteering is a great way to try out some new skills to put on you resume. It can lift your resume to the top of a pile when applying for a new job.