National Volunteer Week 2015 – Celebrate Service: April 12th to 18th

National Volunteer Week is a time to celebrate the millions of volunteers who donate their time to better their communities. Between September 2013 and September 2014, about 63 million people, or 25% of the population, volunteered at least once. The hours of service given in the last year were valued at $173 billion; the average value of a volunteer hour in the U.S. is $22.55 ($26.43 in Connecticut).
People are typically drawn to volunteer at organizations that align with their values or have impacted their life in some way. Silver Hill Hospital has over 230 volunteers that help improve patient care and support hospital operations. Each week you will find about 75 volunteers on campus providing a variety of patient activities and recovery discussion groups; everything from running patient baking groups, art groups and pet therapy to hosting AA groups. Our volunteers give 8,800 per year, which equates to a $232,584 donation. We thank you!

Meet Some of the Silver Hill Volunteers
Frank: Frank Bordonaro created a weekly drawing group for the Adolescent Transitional Living Program, a residential program for teens struggling with psychiatric and addiction problems.
Jane, Larry and Hooper: Everyone in this family donates time to Silver Hill, even Hooper, a lovable yellow lab. Jane takes Hooper to visit the teens in the Adolescent Transitional Living Program and Larry plays chess with patients in the Acute Care Unit.

Benefits of Volunteering
Skill Development: Keep your skills sharp or learn a new one by volunteering at an organization that interests you.
Explore New Careers: Maybe you’re a teen trying to figure out your college major or you’re a professional who’s looking for a change—give volunteering a try. You will get the chance to explore career choices within a variety of organizations and maybe even make connections that can help land a job down the road.
Relieve Stress: When you find an activity at an organization that you like, it will be something to look forward to. Maybe you love gardening, but live in an apartment without a yard—volunteer for community gardening projects. You will be doing something fun for yourself and feel good knowing you are giving back.
Socialize: If you’re new to a community or just looking to expand your social circle, volunteering is a great way to start because you will be around people who share the same interests. Don’t forget that connecting with others helps alleviate depression.