SPONSORED CONTENT -- (StatePoint) New research suggests that Americans are volunteering to give back to their communities and fight stress during uncertain times.
A recent KEEN/Harris Poll Survey found that a majority of Americans see the direct benefits of volunteering, with 86% feeling helping others reduces stress. It’s no surprise then that 59% of respondents say they plan to volunteer in the next two months. But if you’re among the 47% of those who say they struggle to find volunteer opportunities near them, there’s good news. A new partnership between footwear brand KEEN and Points of Light, a nonprofit that mobilizes people to take action that changes the world, is connecting individuals with local opportunities to make an impact in their neighborhoods and communities.
To provide easier access to volunteer opportunities large and small, KEEN is enabling everyone to search for local or national volunteer opportunities via KEEN Corps’ Volunteer Finder tool at keencorpsvolunteer.com. The tool can help you search among tens of thousands of volunteering opportunities each day with nonprofit organizations, schools and other local agencies. Now tapping into Points of Light’s massive database, you’ll be sure to find a volunteer opportunity that aligns with your passions and needs.
“A great many volunteer positions don’t require any particular skills, just heart,” says Erik Burbank, vice president, The KEEN Effect, the team that leads the brand’s social and environmental justice efforts. “Volunteering can be as simple as picking up plastic at the beach or as involved as restoring a wetland. Every action makes a difference.”
Interested volunteers may want to consider taking their efforts a step further by joining The KEEN Corps, the brand’s loyalty program and platform for helping others, which rewards participants for doing good deeds. Since its U.S. launch in September 2021, KEEN Corps has grown to over 18,000 members and counting. As of November 2021, over 10,000 volunteer hours have been logged by Corps members. Through the program, the more you volunteer, donate and shop, the more lives you affect, and the more points you earn. Plus, KEEN Corps volunteers receive limited edition gear, member pricing, and special access to all things KEEN. To learn more or to become a member, visit keenfootwear.com/keen-corps.
“Our recent data confirms that many of us are exhausted and looking for ways to relieve stress and feel in control in these unpredictable times,” says Burbank. “Volunteering in our communities has the dual benefit of giving back and leaving us feeling more fulfilled, empowered and happy.”
