Mayor Nelda Martinez and an enthusiastic group of young volunteers made a difference in their city with cleanup efforts along the Agnes-Loredo Corridor walk. Courtesy photo
Volunteering is a selfless act many people do out of the goodness of their hearts. What is not always recognized is how essential volunteerism is to the vibrancy and economic growth of a community.
April is designated as National Volunteer Appreciation Month, so now's your opportunity to thank those around you who give so generously of their time and talents. This is also a time to appreciate how significant volunteer contributions are to our daily lives.
A great proponent of volunteerism, Mayor Nelda Martinez acknowledged the tremendous value of the work volunteers do.
“Volunteers have an enormous impact on the quality of life in Corpus Christi and provide local organizations with free resources to help meet their mission and goals,” the mayor told the 101 Volunteer Guide. “It can be challenging to find time to volunteer, but it is something that is definitely needed to improve our community.”
Volunteering in the United States happens on a large scale. According to the nonprofit Corporation for National and Community Service, 62.6 million people volunteered about 7.9 billion hours in 2015. Using Independent Sector's hourly estimate, volunteer service was valued at $184 billion. If volunteerism were a company, it would be bigger than Coca-Cola, General Electric or Wal-Mart, according to these numbers.
In the Coastal Bend, organizations such as Metro Ministries, Mission of Mercy and the Food Bank of Corpus Christi not only help feed and clothe people in need, they also provide services to assist people in job hunting, money management and housing.
Health care and dental services are provided by volunteers with Mission of Mercy to the uninsured or underinsured. These types of charitable organizations take the burden off strapped city and state budgets.
But you don’t have to volunteer with a major organization to have a big impact. Many individuals right here in Corpus Christi, on their own initiative, volunteer to raise money for charities, participate in area cleanups and help maintain parks and beaches as well as offer their time to local museums.
Studies show volunteering in and of itself can make people feel healthier and boost self-esteem, particularly for young people in their teen years. The Journal of Health and Social Behavior found people who are involved in community service might have greater life satisfaction, self-esteem, sense of purpose in life, physical health and mental health.
“Volunteerism is a very important part of my life,” Martinez said. “The gift of self and talent to your community is one of the most precious gifts you can give as well as to receive.”
Martinez volunteers with several city initiatives, including the Mayor’s Pride Committee, which works to keep the city streets clean.
“Having been born and raised in Corpus Christi, I take a great deal of pride in improving the cleanliness of our city and maintaining a city that we can all be proud to call our home,” she said.
Interested in getting involved as a volunteer but not sure where to start? Check out our stories and the organizations in our directory and match one to your interests. Then set it all into motion with a phone call!
