Giving Feels Good and is Good For You Too

Studies have confirmed that volunteering not only has mental health benefits, but physical benefits as well-including lower blood pressure, reduced stress, lower levels of depression and a longer lifespan.

Attorneys John and Hillary Rinehardt spent last weekend volunteering at Flying Horse Farms in Mt. Gilead Ohio. Flying Horse Farms is a camp for kids with serious illnesses. For a week at a time, being sick takes a backseat to being a kid. Flying Horse Farms provides magical, transformative camp experiences for hundreds of happy campers and their families every year-completely free of charge.

Yale researchers have proven that campers leave Flying Horse Farms with more independence, higher self-esteem, increased confidence, and greater maturity. You don’t have to be there long to bear witness Rangers-teen campers who participate in a weeklong servant-leadership program-transform. Camper families-who participate in family camps-transform. We can attest that the camp experience is transformative for staff and volunteers too.

At last weekend’s fall family, John used his angling skills to help kids fish in the lake where they “kiss and release” the fish. Hillary worked in the kitchen preparing food from scratch that is mostly donated. If you are interested helping too, check out the ways to get involved on the Flying Horse Farms website.

With our busy lives, it can be hard to find time to volunteer. However, carving out the time to volunteer can have enormous benefits to you, your family, and your community. Learn more about the many benefits of helping others at Harvard Health Publications and find volunteer opportunities in your area at Volunteer Match.