Who Benefits More From Volunteering? The Real Impact on Volunteers and Communities

When you sign up to volunteer, you think you’re giving your time to help others. And you are. But here’s the truth most people don’t talk about: volunteering doesn’t just change lives-it changes yours, too. In fact, the person who often gains the most isn’t the person you’re helping. It’s you.

Volunteers get more than they give

Think about it. You spend a Saturday sorting food at a local pantry. You’re tired. Your back hurts. You didn’t get paid. But later, you feel lighter. Happier. Like you did something that mattered. That’s not just a warm feeling. That’s science. A 2023 study from the University of Auckland tracked over 1,200 volunteers over 18 months. Those who volunteered regularly reported lower stress levels, better sleep, and fewer visits to their doctor. The effect was strongest in people over 50 and those who had recently retired.

Why? Because helping others activates the same brain regions as eating chocolate or winning money. Dopamine. Serotonin. Oxytocin. All of them spike when you do something kind. And unlike a quick dopamine hit from scrolling, the good feelings from volunteering stick around longer. One volunteer in Wellington told me, "I started helping at the youth center because I felt lonely after my wife passed. Now, I’m the one they come to when they need advice. I didn’t know I was healing myself until I saw how much I’d changed."

Communities need volunteers-but they don’t always get what they need

Of course, communities benefit too. Food banks serve more meals. Shelters have cleaner rooms. Kids get homework help. But here’s the catch: the impact often depends on how well the volunteer program is structured. A poorly run program can waste time, create burnout, or even do more harm than good.

Take the case of a rural community center in Taranaki. They asked for volunteers to tutor kids after school. But they didn’t train them. No background checks. No curriculum. Some volunteers showed up once, never came back. Others gave inconsistent help. The kids got confused. The teachers were frustrated. The program almost shut down.

Then they changed things. They brought in a coordinator. Gave volunteers a 3-hour orientation. Matched them with kids based on personality and skill. Set clear goals. Within six months, reading scores went up 22%. Attendance jumped. And the volunteers? They stayed. One retired teacher said, "I thought I was just filling in. Turns out, I found my next chapter."

Who benefits most? It’s not a competition

Some people say, "Volunteers get more out of it than the people they help." That’s not fair. It’s not a zero-sum game. The real question isn’t who benefits more-it’s whether both sides benefit at all.

Look at the numbers. In New Zealand, over 1.2 million people volunteer each year. That’s nearly 30% of the adult population. They contribute an estimated $1.7 billion in unpaid labor. That’s more than the entire annual budget of the Ministry for Culture and Heritage. The communities they serve rely on that work. Without it, services collapse.

But here’s what the stats don’t show: the quiet transformations. A teenager who started volunteering at a homeless shelter now studies social work. A woman who began knitting blankets for newborns in NICUs started a nonprofit that now supplies 20 hospitals. A retired engineer who fixed bikes for kids at a community center got so much joy from it, he started teaching mechanics to teens. These aren’t just side effects. They’re outcomes.

The hidden cost of unpaid help

Don’t get it twisted. Volunteering isn’t magic. It doesn’t fix broken systems. If a community center can’t afford a full-time coordinator, asking volunteers to run everything is unfair. If a charity expects you to work 20 hours a week for free while paying its CEO $150,000, that’s not volunteering-it’s exploitation.

Real volunteering works when it’s respectful. When organizations treat volunteers like partners, not free labor. When they provide training. When they listen. When they say thank you-not just with a certificate, but with real recognition.

I talked to a man in Christchurch who volunteers at a senior center every Tuesday. He drives 45 minutes each way. He doesn’t get paid. But he gets something better: a group of women who call him "our grandson." One of them, 92, used to sit alone in the corner. Now she sings with the choir. She told him, "You came back every week. That’s more than my own kids did."

What kind of volunteering gives you the most back?

Not all volunteer roles are equal. If you want to feel real impact, choose something that matches your skills and interests. Here’s what research shows works best:

• **Skill-based volunteering** (teaching, building, coding, designing) - leads to higher satisfaction and longer commitment
• **Face-to-face roles** (mentoring, caregiving, tutoring) - create stronger emotional bonds and lasting change
• **Regular, predictable schedules** - people who volunteer weekly are 40% more likely to report improved mental health
• **Roles with clear outcomes** - knowing you helped 10 families get food this month feels better than just "helping out."

Avoid roles that feel like busywork. Sorting socks for a shelter? Fine if you like it. But if you’re a graphic designer and you’re only asked to fold blankets, you’re not using your gifts-and you’re not getting the full benefit.

Volunteering isn’t charity. It’s connection.

The biggest myth about volunteering is that it’s about helping the "less fortunate." That language creates distance. It makes us feel like we’re above them. We’re not. We’re just people who showed up.

Volunteering is about seeing each other clearly. About realizing that loneliness, fear, and hope don’t care about income, race, or age. A 16-year-old in South Auckland and a 70-year-old in Dunedin both need someone to listen. And when you give that, you get it back.

One of the most powerful moments I’ve seen? A group of teens from a low-income school volunteered at a retirement home. They were nervous. The residents were quiet. On the last day, the oldest resident, who hadn’t spoken in weeks, stood up. She looked at the teens and said, "You remind me of my grandkids. Thank you for not pretending I’m invisible."

That’s the real return on volunteering. Not a boost to your resume. Not a tax deduction. Not even the warm glow. It’s being reminded that you’re not alone-and neither is anyone else.

What if you’re not sure where to start?

You don’t need to quit your job or move to a different city. Start small. Pick one thing you care about. Then find one way to help.

• Love animals? Call your local SPCA. They always need help walking dogs.
• Good with numbers? Offer to help a small charity with their budget.
• Can cook? Bring a meal to a family after a hospital stay.
• Can drive? Offer rides to seniors who can’t get to appointments.

Don’t wait for the perfect opportunity. The best volunteer work isn’t the one that looks good on your LinkedIn. It’s the one that makes you feel like you belong.

Next steps: Start where you are

You don’t need to wait for the right moment. You don’t need special skills. You just need to show up. Look around your neighborhood. Who needs help? Who’s been overlooked? Find one small thing you can do-and do it. Not because it’s noble. Not because it looks good. But because it makes you feel alive. And if you’re lucky, it might just change your life.