As the weather gets colder and the days get shorter, schools close their campuses for Winter Break, allowing students to relax and spend time with loved ones. A multitude of holidays fall within this period of rest, giving both those who observe a religion and those who do not an opportunity to express appreciation and honor what is most meaningful to them. During this period of gratitude, people tend to find ways to give back to others, including by volunteering. While volunteering is an amazing way to give back to your community, those who only volunteer during the wintertime tend to fall into the trap of “feel-good” volunteering, which is when one volunteers with the hidden intention of boosting their ego. Volunteering should be undertaken with the intention of helping others rather than improving one’s self-image, as the latter is for selfish purposes, a direct contrast to the true nature of volunteering, which is inherently selfless. While many embark in wintertime volunteering as a result of self-reflection or a religious connection, the choice to not pursue further volunteering after the holidays leaves volunteering organizations scrambling to find help in other seasons.
The increase in volunteering during the holiday season can be attributed to a few reasons. According to the University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas) Magazine, Doctor Allison Russell, a professor at the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences at the university, said, “A lot of people who volunteer do so because they are motivated by their values and beliefs…. The holiday season can be a time of introspection for many, leading them to refocus on what’s important to them and perhaps inspiring them to take action.” Religion also plays a role in the increase of volunteers seen in the wintertime. “Because many major religions have important holidays during this time of year, people may be (re)drawn to their congregations and beliefs, leading to a (re)discovery of volunteering and opportunities to serve,” said Russell. Places of worship tend to hold volunteering events, such as toy or food drives, surrounding these holidays, giving the chance for community members to connect while supporting a good cause (magazine.utdallas.edu). Any volunteering helps people, but it should continue year round.
Research data shows an increase in volunteers during wintertime. According to HandsOn Connect, a group which assists nonprofits in managing their volunteer base, projects saw a 42 percent increase in volunteers over the holidays in 2016 as compared to sign-ups for the whole year (handsonconnect.com). However, feel-good volunteering isn’t inherently bad — volunteers are necessary, and having a motivating reason for volunteering can keep people returning for future events. Junior Arielle Bronshteyn said, “I volunteer at Sharp hospital during the school year. During the wintertime, I sporadically volunteer at holiday-themed events, usually with friends or family. While I do see a lot of volunteers at those types of events, I think it is just as important to continue contributing during the year, because not as many people tend to do so, and organizations can suffer from that.”
Indeed, volunteering opportunities in the wintertime can be hard to come by because of how fast they fill up, but organizations struggle to find enough volunteers for events during other times of the year. Philabundance — a Philadelphia-based organization that feeds almost 100,000 people a week — Director of Communications Stefanie Arck-Baynes said, in a Huffpost article, “The summer is really slow. We’re not going to say that it’s more important to get food out during that time, but it’s just as important [as other points during the year]. When we don’t have enough volunteers, we spend more time recruiting…and it’s just that much harder for us to meet the need” (huffpost.com).
There are a variety of reasons to volunteer at any time in the year. Volunteering induces “personal and social fulfillment by connecting people with other members of their community who share their values and beliefs,” according to Russell. Not only this, she adds, “It can also provide a way to build new skills or increase one’s knowledge and experience and can even lead to career opportunities.” In addition to the variety of personal reasons for volunteering, it of course benefits the organizations. Russell said, “Volunteers can multiply the impact on the organization and attract other forms of support by acting as ambassadors” (magazine.utdallas.edu).
Help is appreciated at any point in the year, regardless of the motivating reason. However, while volunteering increases during the wintertime, organizations struggle to manage during the other seasons. Positive feelings after volunteering can be felt at any point of the year, not just during the holidays. When choosing a group with which to volunteer, try one you can commit to year-round. Making volunteering a habit outside of the holiday season ensures more positive results for organizations and a greater sense of satisfaction for volunteers.