Helping the homeless or saving the wetlands not only provides food for the soul, it bolsters your immune system, reduces your blood pressure and adds years to your life span. 
 

The Corporation for National and Community Service recently pulled together research in this field and was able to demonstrate that people who volunteer live longer than those that do not. For example, individuals who get involved in good works after suffering a heart attack report reductions in despair and depression. This in turn drives a reduction in post-traumatic illness and significantly reduces mortality. It’s also true that those who volunteer have fewer incidents of heart disease in the first place. US Census Bureau data shows that states with greater percentages of volunteerism have lower rates of cardiac-related illness.
 

Of course, the benefits conferred by charitable work go well beyond protection against illness. The data shows that volunteering increases levels of life satisfaction, self esteem — and happiness. It makes people feel good about themselves when they reach out and give back to the world — healing the planet, saving lives. Volunteers also report that their charitable work enhances their career skills, from fundraising to communication.
 

In an interview Melinda Wolfe, Head of Professional Development at Bloomberg talked about the benefits — and gratifications — of charitable work. “Community service work is a great stress release. It takes me out of the challenges and conflicts of my day and allows me to see the bigger picture, reframe my perspective and, at the same time, feel deeply rewarded and gratified.” 
 

Subha Barry, Managing Director, Head of Global Diversity & Inclusion at Merrill Lynch – a work environment that has had more than its fair share of stress in recent months – made a similar point. “When I’m stressed and feel a lack of control over my career or life, the most powerful antidote is to give time to someone in need. When I’ve helped a colleague on a job search, or called around my neighbors for donations of food to stock the local soup kitchen, or spent time coaching a cancer patient, I walk away with gratitude for what I have. Nothing is more uplifting or fulfilling.” 
 

Surprisingly, it doesn’t require a huge expenditure of time to reap the multi-faceted benefits of volunteering.According to the new research, volunteers begin to see tangible benefits (to body and soul) by “donating” just 40-100 hours per year. One interesting fact: women volunteer at significantly higher rates than men. According to the US Census Bureau, across the country 32% of women volunteer, compared with 25% of men.