BETTER TOMORROW

Americans Rise From the Ashes of the Pandemic To Volunteer

Musing about the world’s capacity for kindness.

While I muse about the state of the world, I can’t help but think of the great things that have conspired in spite of the darkness. As an aspiring therapist, I often work with people who harbor tragic dark stories and I try my best to help them see the positives of their circumstances.

Sometimes, when compounded with the stresses of others, I take time to read things that are more uplifting and positive. Recently, I stumbled upon a curious survey that has suggested that the effects of the pandemic have enabled people to reach out to their local communities in very intimate ways.

In this new survey involving 2000 Americans, more than half identified that they had volunteered for the very first time due to the circumstances accrued by the pandemic.

That number was specifically 52%.

Out of this panel, at least 35% reported delivering food to essential workers, 23% identified helping out the elderly (and people with mobility barriers), while 20% reported volunteering at their local food bank. However, that’s just the tip of the iceberg — I’m sure there are more activities that people did on top of these three.

Curiously, even though 52% of all people actually volunteered, at least 70% of all participants expressed some kind of interest in wanting to volunteer in general. It seems that the fear of the unknown, alongside safety, presented understandable barriers.

On the upside, online ventures and volunteerism have been greatly legitimized due to the pressing events of our world. For example, I volunteer remotely for a national crisis line where I chat with people who are vulnerable and are in need of immediate moral support.

I have spent many hours virtually engaging with people who live in different geographic areas, and I do it because I like to see the best in others. Since we are all equals, every single one of us is worthy of respect, even when we go through things that sometimes skew our perception of the world and ourselves.

Harking back to the study, I found it interesting that the driving force for helping out communities was because people wanted to effectively support their friends, family, and neighbors. In turn, those others might have supported them back and carried that goodness forward.

Perhaps after the pandemic, interest in volunteerism will proliferate, especially since the residual effects of the past take a long time to heal. In time, perhaps more acts of selflessness and courage will become more organic, painting a much more wholesome world.

As Roy T. Bennett once noted,

“Be the reason someone smiles. Be the reason someone feels loved and believes in the goodness in people.”

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