TNLisaDaniellNational Volunteer Week Inspires Communities to Give Back
Volunteers are essential to vibrant communities. This is why National Volunteer Week is so important as communities come together to celebrate and encourage those who give back.
Read more to learn about the history and importance of National Volunteer Week, read stories of giving back and see how you can get involved this week and beyond.
What is National Volunteer Week?
This year is the 50th anniversary of National Volunteer Week–putting a spotlight on the impact and generosity of volunteers. According to GovInfo’s article, “History of National Service,” National Volunteer Week was established by President Richard Nixon in April of 1974 to celebrate volunteers and their impact. This movement has grown over the years as thousands of nonprofit organizations and communities throughout the nation recognize and inspire those who give back.
The 2025 National Volunteer Week will be celebrated from April 20 – 26 during Global Volunteer Month. Started by Points of Light in 2020, this global movement aims to further recognize and encourage volunteerism around the world. Celebrating throughout the month of April shows just how great an impact volunteers have on their communities as people gather together to thank those who continue to give their time to help others.
Importance of National Volunteer Week
Without caring people giving back, many communities would not have the support necessary to thrive. Volunteers make a difference in real people’s lives as they help fight food insecurity, guide the next generation, improve social health and provide essential resources among so much more. Nationally, “over 28 percent of Americans volunteered through an organization between September 2022 and 2023, an increase of five percentage points from the historic low documented in 2021,” according to AmeriCorps’ Volunteering and Civic Life in America Research Summary. This growth illustrates how more and more people recognize the benefits giving back has on their communities and even their own lives. See AmeriCorps’ chart below for a more detailed look at how people are engaging with their communities:
In Michigan, AmeriCorps notes that “2,141,460 formal volunteers contributed 138,630,397 hours of service through organizations worth an estimated $4.4 billion.” These statistics highlight just how great an impact volunteers have on their communities and the state of Michigan overall. Not only is National Volunteer Week a great time to reflect on volunteers’ contributions and positive effects but it also is an opportunity to further those impacts as we encourage others to give back too.
Read the stories below for an in-depth look at why people volunteer and how their lives and communities have been impacted by their service.
Stories of Giving Back
People can give back through a variety of avenues. One thing remains constant, however; volunteers continue to help those around them, ultimately improving the well-being of their communities.
Suzie’s Story
“It’s all about relationships,” reflects Suzie on her experience working with the kids at TrueBlue Academy. “Sometimes it’s opening up with some troubles, but often it’s also opening up to have fun and have fun with other kids. A lot of the kids we have in TrueBlue have had troubles with bullying, and so they’re very cautious with other students.”
Suzie has been volunteering with TrueBlue Academy for over a year. After teaching for 30 years, Suzie wanted to find a way to continue supporting area kids,
and she found a great way to give back at TrueNorth.
TrueBlue Academy is a part of TrueNorth’s youth mentoring program, TrueMentors. This program provides students in need of extra encouragement with group mentoring programming once a week during the school day. The program is run by TrueNorth staff with support from participating schools’ Resource Officers and volunteers like Suzie.
Being able to build trust and support kids at TrueBlue has been one of the most rewarding parts for Suzie. She says, “I like being in the classroom, and I like helping other kids and teachers. It’s a lot of fun, and I hope that we can make a positive experience for those kids who may be struggling.”
Take a look at the video below to hear more about Suzie’s experience volunteering:
Diane’s Story
“I like talking to people, and I know how lonely sometimes I get,” says Diane, a TrueNorth volunteer, about why she decided to volunteer for Call & Connect. “If they don’t have somebody to talk to then I said, ‘I might as well be trying to make a smile on their face, especially if they don’t get out.’”
Call & Connect is a volunteer opportunity that pairs volunteers with older adults in Newaygo County who would benefit from extra social interaction. This initiative aims to spread kindness and encouragement through a simple phone call, helping everyone feel a part of our community.
Diane is one of the first volunteers for Call & Connect. She also participates in Community Connections programming and understands the importance of socialization and relationships. Diane says, “If they know somebody else is out there that cares, maybe it will help them feel better.”
Although Diane is just starting to volunteer for Call & Connect, she is looking forward to continuing conversations and building relationships. These conversations not only impact those who are called but will also impact callers like Diane as they engage with each other.
“I want to try to be an encouragement to other people,” says Diane. “It’s a good thing to do to help brighten somebody else’s day.”
Check out the video below to hear more about Diane’s impact:
Encourage Others this National Volunteer Week
You can ensure our neighbors thrive this National Volunteer Week and beyond. Whether you thank a volunteer or give back yourself, you can help inspire hope and resilience in your community. Learn more about how you can get involved at TrueNorth Community Services to make a difference below.
TrueNorth’s Volunteer Opportunities
At TrueNorth, we provide opportunities for everyone in our community to receive help, connect and give back. We offer a number of volunteer opportunities for people to renew purpose and help those in need, including:
- Agency Support
- Camp Newaygo
- Community Connections
- Hunger Prevention
- Youth Mentoring
- Special Programs & Events
- Call & Connect
You can transform lives just like Suzie and Diane. By coming together through volunteerism, we can secure the well-being of our neighbors and communities. Support our volunteers and give back today to be confident you are strengthening Michigan communities.
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