Is It a Good Idea to Volunteer? Real Benefits You Can’t Ignore

People ask if volunteering is worth it. Not because they don’t care-they do. But they’re tired of hearing platitudes like "it feels good" or "you’ll make a difference." They want to know: is it a good idea to volunteer-really? Not just for the charity, but for them.

You get more than you give

Volunteering isn’t a one-way street. It’s a exchange. You give time, but you get skills, connections, and clarity. A 2024 study from Massey University tracked 1,200 New Zealand volunteers over six months. Those who volunteered regularly reported better sleep, lower stress levels, and fewer doctor visits than non-volunteers-even after controlling for age, income, and fitness.

Why? Because helping others shifts your focus. When you’re sorting food donations at a local pantry in Porirua, you’re not ruminating over that awkward email or your rent increase. You’re solving real problems: Which shelf gets the canned beans? Who needs extra fruit for their kids? That kind of work quiets the noise.

Your resume isn’t the only thing that improves

Yes, volunteering looks good on a resume. But that’s not why people stick with it. They stay because they learn things no course can teach.

One woman in Wellington started helping at a youth drop-in center after her son left for university. She didn’t plan to become a mentor. But over time, she learned how to listen without fixing, how to read body language in teens who won’t speak, how to navigate social services for families in crisis. She didn’t get a title. She didn’t get paid. But she walked away with emotional intelligence that changed how she handled every relationship in her life.

Volunteering builds soft skills you can’t fake: patience, adaptability, conflict resolution. Employers notice. But more importantly, you notice. You start seeing yourself differently.

You find your people

Loneliness isn’t just an old person’s problem. A 2025 survey by the New Zealand Council of Voluntary Organisations found that 41% of volunteers under 35 said they joined because they felt disconnected. After six months, 78% reported having at least three people they could call on a bad day.

Volunteering puts you in rooms with people who care about the same things you do-without the pressure of networking events or LinkedIn connections. You’re not trying to impress anyone. You’re just showing up to plant trees, pack meals, or walk dogs at the SPCA. That’s how real friendships form. Not over coffee chats, but side-by-side, covered in dirt or dog hair.

It’s not about saving the world

Don’t go in thinking you’ll fix homelessness or end climate change. You won’t. And that’s okay.

What you can do is make one person’s day better. Maybe it’s a senior who hasn’t had a visitor in months, and you show up every Tuesday to read the newspaper aloud. Maybe it’s a teenager who finally says "thanks" after you helped them fill out their job application. Those moments don’t make headlines. But they matter.

Volunteering isn’t about grand gestures. It’s about showing up, consistently, with no expectation of applause. That’s where the real power lies.

It’s easier than you think

You don’t need to quit your job. You don’t need to fly to another country. You don’t need to be an expert.

Here’s what actually works:

• Two hours a month at a food bank in Lower Hutt
• One Saturday a quarter helping clean up a beach in Taranaki
• Reading to kids at your local library for 30 minutes after work
• Driving someone to their chemotherapy appointment once a week

Most organizations don’t need superheroes. They need reliable people. Someone who shows up. Someone who doesn’t cancel last minute. That’s enough.

It’s not always easy

Let’s be real: volunteering can be hard. You might show up to an animal shelter and feel overwhelmed by the noise. You might help at a homeless outreach and feel powerless. You might get frustrated when the system doesn’t change fast enough.

That’s normal. It doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. It means you’re paying attention.

Some of the most meaningful volunteer work happens in the messy middle-not the Instagram-worthy moments. It’s showing up even when you’re tired. Even when you’re unsure. Even when you don’t feel like you’re making a dent.

That’s where character grows.

What you’ll lose

Volunteering doesn’t cost money. But it does cost something else: time you could spend scrolling, binge-watching, or doing nothing.

Some people say they don’t have time. But they do. They just choose to spend it differently. Volunteering asks you to reallocate a little of that time. And in return, you gain perspective.

You start noticing how much you take for granted. The hot shower. The full fridge. The quiet night. Those things don’t disappear. But they stop being the center of your world.

It’s not charity. It’s connection.

Volunteering isn’t about being a saint. It’s about being human. It’s about remembering that we’re all just trying to get by-some with more support than others.

When you volunteer, you’re not lifting someone up from below. You’re standing beside them. That’s a different kind of strength.

And if you’re wondering whether it’s a good idea to volunteer? Look around. The people who do it aren’t perfect. They’re not saints. They’re just people who showed up. And they’re happier for it.