Volunteering: The happiness effect
Helping others kindles happiness, as many studies have demonstrated. When researchers at the London School of Economics examined the relationship between volunteering and measures of happiness in a large group of American adults, they found the more people volunteered, the happier they were. Volunteering can provide a healthy boost to your self-confidence, self-esteem, and life satisfaction. You are helping others and the community, which provides a natural sense of accomplishment. Your role as a volunteer can also give you a sense of pride and identity. And the better you feel about yourself, the more likely you are to have a positive view of your life and future goals.
The well-documented growth in the older adult population in Boulder County and Via’s passionate desire to serve everyone who needs a ride are the two main reasons for Via’s new volunteer driver program. Unique to Via’s volunteer driver program is that volunteers will have the choice of driving a colorfully decaled hybrid electric Via Prius or the volunteer’s own car. Volunteer drivers will have the benefit of Via’s 36 years of expertise in transportation and in understanding the mobility needs of older adults as well as safety and passenger assistance training, supplemental liability insurance and mobile tablets with GPS.
If you’ve got a little time to spare, we want you. You’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that you have made a difference in someone’s life by giving a ride, and in helping an older adult or a person with a disability have access to the community and essential services.
Join Via’s corps of volunteer drivers. Friendships will be forged and laughter will be shared. We promise.
Interested? Call 303-444-3069 or email volunteer@viacolorado.org or www.viacolorado.org/volunteer/.
Via is a private nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting independence and self-sufficiency for people with limited mobility by providing caring, customer-focused transportation options.