I had absolutely no intentions of volunteering my freshman year of high school. It was already stressful enough getting around a new building. Thankfully, here at Warren, we have so many gateways that help students get started!
Volunteering can be beneficial in a variety of ways. For one, it’s what got me into NHS… But besides that, it’s given me an opportunity to give back to the community, gain experience, give me a sense of connection, and of course, strengthen my college applications. According to an article written by a student at Western Connecticut State University, a research conducted by the London School of Economics examined the relationship between volunteering and happiness in a fairly large group of American adults. They, of course, found that the more people that volunteered, the happier they were.
For any juniors interested in joining Warren’s National Honor Society, here’s a fat spoiler: you’ll need some volunteer hours. But, do not fret! Warren offers many opportunities that can help increase your hours.
To begin with, for example, Students of Service (SOS), which is thankfully offered at both O’Plaine and Almond campus, is a club dedicated to serving the community. It’s a great way to increase your hours and build connections. SOS meets once per month, and gives information on potential volunteer opportunities and hosts events. For more information on them, look out for announcements on their next meeting, or, follow their instagram: @oplainesos21 (O’Plaine) & @sos_warren (Almond). At the Almond Campus, MECS (Mother Earth’s Concerned Students) is a club that involves various activities including volunteering events, environmental policies, and more. These are just 2 of the clubs offered here at Warren that involve potential volunteer events!
Two common volunteer opportunities that students often choose include Feed My Starving Children and Bernie’s Book Bank. FMSC is a nonprofit organization committed to hand packing nutritious meals to combat malnutrition. The nearest location is in Libertyville. To volunteer, visit: https://www.fmsc.org/get-involved/volunteer
Bernie’s Book Bank is a volunteer organization dedicated to creating a pathway to more accessible books for children. They help build personal libraries. It’s located in Lake Bluff, Illinois. To volunteer, visit: https://berniesbookbank.volunteerhub.com/vv2/
Whether or not you are upper class-man, volunteering has benefits that don’t relate to getting into the National Honor Society. It is what connects us with our community.
