New Year, New Ways to Help Your Community: The Volunteer Expo at the Downtown Bend Library

Posted By:  Tina Walker Davis
Date Posted:  12/31/2018

Volunteer Expo: January 27 | noon-3:00 p.m. | Downtown Bend Library

The difference volunteering makes in the lives of others has been well documented, and most non-profit organizations depend on volunteers to help carry out their work. But research shows that volunteering also benefits the actual volunteers themselves. Wharton professor Cassie Mogliner found that spending time helping others leaves people feeling as if they have more time, not less. “The results show that giving your time to others can make you feel more ‘time affluent’ and less time-constrained than wasting your time, spending it on yourself, or even getting a windfall of free time,” Mogliner noted in the Harvard Business Review.

Outside of making people feel as if they have more time, volunteering benefits people in myriad other ways as well: it can help bolster a resume, presents opportunities to meet new people, and develops and refines new skills—it’s even been shown to reduces stress. People looking benefit others while improving their own lives can find new ways to volunteer in their community with the upcoming Volunteer Expo hosted by Deschutes Public Library.

“New Year’s resolutions often focus on ways to better ourselves,” says Judy England, Volunteer Coordinator for Deschutes Public Library. “Volunteering is a great way to start the New Year and a great way to enrich your own life while helping others,” says England.

Deschutes Public Library has hosted the Expo for 11 years. “The Expo gives us the chance to bring people who are looking for a volunteer opportunity together with organizations who are in need of volunteers,” says Liisa Sjoblom, Community Librarian and co-organizer of the event.  

During the Expo, potential volunteers will have the chance to meet with representatives from a variety of organizations including the Bethlehem Inn, Healing Reins, the Assistance League of Bend, St. Charles Health System and more.  The Expo is free, and people are encouraged to stop in anytime between noon and 3:00 p.m. to speak with representatives from area organizations about needs and opportunities with their organizations.

For more information about this or other library programs, please call 541-617-7080 or visit the library at www.deschuteslibrary.org.