When we think of the benefits of volunteering, most of us tend to focus on measuring the impact of the volunteer activities on the health of the community and those being served.

However, a growing body of research indicates that volunteering also provides significant health and social benefits to the volunteer. According to a report issued by the Corporation for National and Community Service, “The Health Benefits of Volunteering,” those who volunteer have lower mortality rates, greater functional ability and lower rates of depression in later life than those who do not volunteer.

As co-chairpersons of the Volunteer Committee for the Ames Blue Zones Project, we recognize that civic engagement has an impact that goes beyond the core intention of helping others. Volunteering is truly a principle everyone can incorporate into their lives that has a direct impact on their increased well-being and longevity, the focal point of the Blue Zones Project.

Volunteering, whether giving a few hours a day or a few hours a month, reinforces and assists others within several of the Blue Zones Power 9 Principles. Furthermore, as stated in the article cited above, the volunteer experiences strong social and psychological effects, such as enhancement of one’s sense of purpose, the heart of Blue Zones Principle #2 (Know Your Purpose). People who know why they wake up in the morning live as much as seven years longer than those who don’t.

Whether you are from a designated Blue Zones Community or not, we encourage you to embrace the common elements of the Blue Zones Principles. Through volunteer service of your choice, you can not only help your community, but also experience better health and well-being. There are countless opportunities to give back and meet needs in our communities through volunteerism.

If you are not familiar with Blue Zones — geographically defined areas where people live measurably longer — please visit the Ames Blue Zones on the web at www.amesbluezonesproject.com or check out the best-selling book titled “The Blue Zones — Lessons For Living Longer, from the People Who’ve Lived the Longest,” written by Dan Buettner.

To find out about volunteer opportunities in your community, contact Central Iowa RSVP at www.rsvpvolunteer.org or 515-292-8890, or the Volunteer Center of Story County at www.vcstory.org or 515-268-5323.