Some say a little volunteering can make the world go round, so imagine what a lot more can do. Last week, the House of Lazarus held an open house to show off the inner cogs of their operation, from the food bank to the clothing department, as an attempt to bring on more volunteers.

These days, a lot of people, especially the younger generation, don’t or can’t see the benefits that can come from volunteering. Not only can volunteering be an impressive addition to your resumé and earn you some Good Samaritan points, but studies have shown that volunteering can be linked toward improving one’s mental and physical health.

Anxiety and depression can have an enormous impact on a person’s day-to-day life, affecting both their career and personal affairs including relationships, friendships and even family. Volunteering may be a useful tool to add to your arsenal, because when you take away the looming cloud of pay-checks and set hours, and add in the benefits of helping others, meeting new people, and learning new tasks, it takes some of the pressure off.

Volunteering can also be useful for dipping your toe in the workforce. When students are done their stint in high school, a lot of the time they find the need to immediately apply for post-secondary education; even if they’re not 100 per cent certain of what they want for their futures. Volunteering can help students understand what they like and dislike doing when it comes to work.

Television might make you think that young adults start to understand who they are during high school but this is often not the case; for many it is only when you finally have to deal with car payments, taxes, student loans, kids and a career that you finally understand where you belong in life.

Volunteering can help you discover a new interest or passion, whether it be helping out at a local care centre or folding clothes at the House of Lazarus.

While some might be nervous to begin volunteering, concerned with adding another item to your already busy plate, remember it could just be the very thing you need to improve physical and mental health or steer you to a better career.

Kory Glover