How Volunteering Can Benefit Mental Health | Nightly News FIlms

Summary

Gather 55, a pay-what-you-can restaurant in Hartford, Connecticut, offers quality meals to everyone, with an option to volunteer in exchange for food. Run by Hands-On Hartford, the initiative addresses food insecurity while fostering community connections. Volunteers like Linda Mason and others share how their involvement helped combat feelings of loneliness, exacerbated by the pandemic. Research shows that volunteering not only strengthens social bonds but also improves mental and physical health. Through meaningful contributions, volunteers like Mason find purpose, happiness, and a sense of fulfillment in helping others.

Takeaways

• 🍽️ Gather 55 is a restaurant in Hartford, Connecticut, where people pay what they can for a quality meal, and those who cannot pay can volunteer instead.
• 🤝 The restaurant is run by Hands-On Hartford, a nonprofit focused on housing, health, and food insecurity.
• 👥 State Representative Jeff Luxembourg emphasizes that bringing people together helps solve larger societal issues.
• 🙋‍♀️ Linda Mason, a retired special education teacher, volunteers at Gather 55 and finds joy and purpose in helping others.
• 😷 The pandemic increased feelings of loneliness for many, and volunteering helps ease those feelings by fostering human connection.
• 📊 A survey showed 36% of Americans frequently feel lonely, and for young people, that figure is 61%.
• 💡 Research shows that volunteering positively impacts mental and physical health, reducing depression and mortality risks.
• 🧑‍🏫 AmeriCorps volunteer Attia Wilkins credits volunteering with pulling her out of isolation after her nursing license expired during the pandemic.
• 🚗 Alice Sessions, a retiree, volunteers as a companion driver, helping those who cannot get to appointments on their own, and finds meaning in her work.
• 💖 For volunteers like Linda Mason, giving back creates meaningful connections that fulfill a deeper emotional and psychological need.

Q & A

What is Gather 55, and where is it located?

Gather 55 is a restaurant located in Hartford, Connecticut, where meals are offered on a 'pay what you can' basis, and those unable to pay can volunteer their time instead.

Who runs Gather 55, and what is their mission?

Gather 55 is run by Hands-On Hartford, a non-profit organization that focuses on addressing housing, health, and food insecurity.

How does Gather 55 benefit the community?

Gather 55 brings people together by providing affordable, quality meals and offers a chance to volunteer, fostering a sense of connection and addressing larger societal issues like food insecurity and isolation.

Who is Jeff Luxembourg, and what role does he play in Gather 55?

Jeff Luxembourg is a state representative and the community engagement manager at Gather 55, helping to solve larger community problems by bringing people together.

How does Linda Mason contribute to Gather 55, and how has it impacted her life?

Linda Mason, a retired special education teacher, volunteers at Gather 55. The experience has given her a sense of purpose, helped alleviate feelings of isolation she felt during the pandemic, and made her feel happier and lighter.

What impact did the pandemic have on Linda Mason, and how did volunteering help her cope?

The pandemic made Linda feel extremely lonely. Volunteering at Gather 55 gave her a sense of purpose, reducing her feelings of isolation and bringing her happiness.

What does research show about the benefits of volunteering?

Research shows that volunteering can ease feelings of loneliness, improve mental and physical health, reduce the risk of mortality, and lower feelings of depression.

Why does volunteering make people feel better according to the script?

Volunteering creates connections with others, and knowing that you made a difference during a volunteer shift can give a sense of fulfillment and purpose.

How did Attia Wilkins benefit from volunteering after struggling during the pandemic?

Attia Wilkins, a former nursing assistant, fell into isolation during the pandemic but found a renewed sense of purpose by mentoring high school students through AmeriCorps. Volunteering helped her feel like she was contributing again.

How does Alice Sessions describe the impact of loneliness and volunteering on her life?

Alice Sessions, a retiree, felt unhappy and isolated by the end of 2023. Volunteering as a companion driver gave her a sense of purpose and connection, helping her overcome feelings of isolation.